Life history patterns and seasonal growth rates of eleven shredder spe
cies inhabiting an Appalachian mountain stream (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)
were determined and conceptually linked to the species composition of
the riparian forest. Thirty-two woody plant species were represented i
n the riparian forest, with a near-equal compliment of foliage cover w
ithin each of the three leaf processing categories (slow, medium, fast
). Relative cover of individual species was highly correlated with the
proportions of standing stock biomass of individual species of stream
leaf detritus. With two exceptions, each shredder species was univolt
ine; Tallaperla maria exhibited a semivoltine life cycle, while Pteron
arcys proteus appeared to require four years to complete nymphal devel
opment. Paracapnia angulata, Taeniopteryx maura, Tallaperla maria, Lep
idostoma (Nosopus) modestum group sp., Pycnopsyche gentilis, P. lucule
nta, and Brillia flavifrons exhibited either autumn and/or winter grow
th. In contrast, Amphinemura nigritta, A. wui, and L. (Mormomyin) sp.
displayed either spring and/or summer growth. Overall, the study strea
m appears to be an appropriate system for analyzing the riparian-shred
der link because (1) the riparian assemblage is diverse within a broad
range of leaf-processing rates, and (2) the shredder guild is corresp
ondingly diverse with a wide array of seasonal growth patterns.