As an example, during the spring and summer, the leaf canopy protects the stream from excessive heat which would increase water temperature and consequently limit certain types of invertebrates and vertebrates living in the stream. Secondly, carbon is the basic element found in all living things including leaves and there is a carbon chain which unites all living things. Simple sugars, complex sugars and carbohydrates, as examples, are all carbon based. Obviously, simple sugars, by their classification, are the building blocks of life as they are one of the simplest carbon chains to break down. The leaves falling into the water form one small aspect of this carbon chain.
Leaves contain carbon.
Bacteria and fungi, along with species of insects, utilize this DOC which is released from the decomposition of the leaf litter through water action or by the action of the organisms using the leaf litter as a food supply. These organisms themselves, become a food source for other species. As simple sugars are natural components of leaf litter, their breakdown has been shown to increase species such as trout. Trout production increased because the food supply had increased. The species trout relied upon for food increased because the bacterial slime this species relied upon for food had increased as well.