Emerald ash borer impact on microbial subsidies to streams

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, has killed millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) since its introduction, propelling this invader to the forefront of natural resources concerns. Despite the prominence and deleterious impacts from this invasive species, information about the impact of widespread ash mortality on terrestrial-aquatic linkages is scarce. Mortality of ash trees along stream corridors can result in canopy light gaps, which potentially alter riparian plant community structure and subsequent organic matter subsidies into streams. We postulated that the composition of leaf packs would shift in response to the changing riparian forest. We hypothesized the microbial communities colonizing leaf litter would also be influenced by the altered allochthonous riparian subsidies.