TITLE PAGE - acumen - The University of Alabama

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 2.1
TABLE 2.2
TABLE 2.3
TABLE 3.1
TABLE 3.2
TABLE 3.3
TABLE 4.1
TABLE 4.2
Mean (1 S.D.) macroinvertebrate biomass (mg dry mass) in leaf packs incubated
in four cave streams in northeastern Alabama and southeastern Tennessee, U.S.A.
Note: *** indicates hypogean (i.e. cave-adapted) taxa and ^^^ indicates potential
shredder taxa ........................................................................................................ 30
Mean (±1 S.D.) daily temperature and NH4+-N, NO3--N, and soluble reactive
phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in four cave streams in northeastern Alabama
and southeastern Tennessee, U.S.A. during two incubation periods. Inc =
incubation period, Temp = temperature, BD = below detection. ........................ 32
Selected published breakdown rates (k, d -1 ) for corn (Zea mays) and red maple
(Acer rubrum) from surface and cave streams. Note that in Simon & Benfield’s
(2001) study, breakdown rates were examined in caves streams that had either
“direct” (i.e. upstream cave entrances or sinkholes) or “indirect” (i.e. small cracks
and fissures) connections to surface environments .............................................. 33
Mean (range) of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), NH 4 + -N, and NO 3¯-N
concentrations in control (CR) and manipulation (MR) reaches in Bluff River
Cave, AL, U.S.A. BD = below detection ............................................................. 65
Mean (±1 standard deviation) macroinvertebrate biomass (mg dry mass m -2 ) from
core samples pre- and post-litter amendment in the control and manipulation
reaches in Bluff River Cave stream ..................................................................... 66
Average (± standard error) of δ 13 C (‰) values for consumers and organic matter
in the control and manipulation reaches post-litter addition in Bluff River Cave.
Percent of consumer biomass composed of carbon from the amended corn litter as
estimated from a standard linear mixing model (two-source, single-isotope).
FPOM = fine particulate organic matter (≥250 to 500 µm). CPOM: C3 plants =
coarse particulate organic matter (≥500 µm) that is only of C3 plant origin ....... 69
Estimated minimum life span (years), mean time-to-maturity (years) and age-atfirst-reproduction
(years), proportions of males and females that were mature, and
male:female ratio for Orconectes australis in Hering, Limrock and Tony Sinks
caves. Ranges are in parentheses ......................................................................... 93
Estimated life span (years, shortest to longest) and time-to-maturity (years) of
selected surface (S) and cave (C) crayfish with the method utilized for
xii