The influence of stream tributaries to lakes and upstream forest harvest on benthic, lake delta communities

Lake deltas (LDs) receive nutrient and energy subsidies from upstream habitats. These inputs can support LD benthic production. However, LDs may also impacts disturbance. Small lakes in coastal British Columbia often have inflow streams areas with forest harvesting, which is pervasive this region. Forest harvesting alter stream production, although downstream on lakes, compared to streams, are less studied understood. We aimed test whether communities (biofilm invertebrates) more productive (or) diverse other along the lakeshore (LS) (non-LDs), there differences associated harvesting. riparian that were harvested (HLD) or relatively undisturbed (ULD), LS sites. found while community structure was similar across sites, ULDs had higher biofilm invertebrate standing stocks (1.5- 2-times higher, respectively) than HLDs Our results suggest production at ULDs. advance our understanding of disturbance stream-lake connectivity.