Riparian forests are major contributors of organic matter to stream ecosystems, and variation in tree species composition can strongly influence detrital processing and the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Differences in litter quality, such as those between hardwood and conifer species, may alter microbial conditioning, decomposition rates, and the diversity of detritus‑associated taxa. Yet the functional consequences of shifts in riparian forest composition remain understudied across many southeastern U.S. landscapes. This project will compare decomposition dynamics and associated microbial, fungal, and macroinvertebrate assemblages in red maple (Acer rubrum) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) leaf packs to evaluate how contrasting litter types shape stream ecosystem function. By deploying standardized leaf packs across multiple sites and sampling over time, we will quantify detrital processing rates, macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance, and the presence of sensitive taxa. We hypothesize that hardwood litter will support faster decomposition and more diverse, functionally richer communities than pine litter. This work will provide foundational insight into how riparian forest composition influences stream ecosystem processes and will inform future assessments of forest management practices and their ecological implications.