The importance of leaf litter

At this time of year the principle source of energy in many upland burns comes from leaves washed into the burn.

These aspen leaves will be processed in stages by a series of micro-organisms such as fungi & bacteria, followed by invertebrates such as the larvae of stoneflies & caddisflies which in turn
are preyed upon by larger animals including fish.

The rate of breakdown varies with different tree species with the leaves of some tree species such as bird cherry broken down within a few weeks whereas the leaves of other species such as oak may take several months to decay.

Most semi-natural woodlands produce a diverse leaf-litter and will therefore provide a continuous food supply throughout the autumn and winter to sustain a rich and productive aquatic ecosystem.