THE PECULIARITY OF FOOD CHAIN AND MATTER CYCLE CAUSED BY DIFFERENCES OF REEDBED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN RIVERSIDE LAND

Abstract

The Reedbed which spread in the lower Iwaki River is precious habitat for some endangered species, such as Japanese Marsh Warbler (Locustella pryeri). This marshy-meadow has been retained by burning and cutting reed, but as it is frequently in recent years, drying of the non-managed reedbed is remarkably progressing.

We investigated the effect of these artificial managements on ground beetle community and food web structure in the reedbed ecosystem. Reed cutting is affective for maintaining of species richness of ground beetles, but non-managed area has less diversity because of desiccation on these wetlands. Food web analysis using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes suggested that detritus food chain is affected by management which removes litter deposits from reedbeds. To conserve the environment and organisms in this ecosystem, we need a management design that ecological balance was considered.