In this blog post, Alexander Feckler and his colleagues explore the role of autochthonous primary production for the quality of microbially-colonized leaf material as food in heterotrophic food web in headwater streams. Despite reduced autochthonous primary production in shaded headwater streams, this study indicated a potential for enhanced secondary production and energy transfer to higher trophic levels within the aquatic ecosystem due to so-called “algal priming”.
Continue readingHow algae and fungi team up to nourish aquatic invertebrates
![Figure for how algae and fungi team up to nourish aquatic invertebrates](https://ecotox-blog.uni-landau.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Figure-1-1-150x150.jpg)