Impacts of Salinization on Leaflitter Decomposition by Hyalella Azteca
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Authors
Trevor Grandy
Issue Date
2026
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Language
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Abstract
Sodium chloride (NaCl) has emerged as a significant environmental contaminant over the past decade, primarily due to the widespread application of road deicing salts in response to increasing frequency and intensity of winter storms. Extensive research has demonstrated that freshwater salinization from road salt runoff can cause toxicity to aquatic organisms and negatively impact ecosystem function. However, less is known about how indirect effects of salinization impact the quality of diet and leaflitter decomposition. Furthermore, little is known about the impacts of a diet consisting of non-native or invasive plants rather than their native counterparts. This study investigates how NaCl exposure and leaf litter quality influence decomposition rates of Hyalella azteca. Leaf discs from a native (Acer saccharum) and an invasive (Acer platanoides) species were conditioned, exposed to NaCl concentrations of 0, 1, 5, and 10 g/L, and fed to H. azteca in 96-hour feeding assays. Results indicated that decomposition rates increased significantly at higher chloride concentrations, particularly at 10 g/L for A. saccharum and at both 5 and 10 g/L for A. platanoides. Although H. azteca survival was not affected by salinity, individuals fed A. platanoides exhibited lower body mass than those fed A. saccharum. These findings suggest that both salinization and leaf litter composition can alter leaf litter processing in freshwater ecosystems, with potential cascading effects on nutrient cycling and food web dynamics. Understanding these interactions is essential for predicting the ecological consequences of increasing freshwater salinity and for shaping regulatory frameworks that protect ecosystems undergoing climate change and urbanization.