Allochthonous inputs of organic material are a primary source of energy in low-order woodland streams (Allan 1995). Riparian leaf litter and woody debris represent critical resources for invertebrate detritivores, who play an important role in both function and structure of lotic food webs. Functionally, detritivores are responsible for up to 25% of leaf litter degradation in streams (Petersen and Cummins 1974; see review in Al lan 1995). Not surprisingly, experimental removal of detritivorous invertebrates can result in lower decomposition rates of terrestrial organic matter (Wallace et al. 1982). Furthermore, shred der detritivores break down coarse organic material (CPOM) into finer materials, thereby increasing food availability to invertebrates who are collector filterers and gatherers (Cummins et al. 1973, Short and Maslin 1977, Wallace and Webster 1996). Thus, changes in quantity, quality, or timing of terrestrial litter inputs as a result of disturbance may negatively impact detritivore