Leaf litter quantity
To estimate leaf-litter standing stocks, we sampled leaf material at 10 random locations using a 0.11 m2 quadrat, on the riparian ground (5 on each bank, <1m from the bank top) and on the streambed at each site and in each season. In riparian habitat and on the streambed when dry, all visible detrital leaf material was hand-picked within the quadrat. In flowing instream habitats, organic matter was collected in a driftnet (mesh size = 500 µm) attached to downstream side of the quadrat, after hand-disturbing the substrate to suspend organic matter in the water column. For each habitat, the 10 samples were combined in the field and taken to the lab where they were rinsed and cleaned from sediment, invertebrates, twigs and rocks. Remaining leaf material was then oven-dried at 70°C for 78h, and weighed to estimate dry mass. A subsample was then burnt at 550°C to estimate ash-free dry mass.