Introductions of invasive plant species to riparian zones can impact nearby freshwater ecosystems by altering the composition of leaf litter available to freshwaters that serve as critical habitat and food resources for aquatic biota. These changes in inland waterways can also impact ecosystems downstream such as estuaries and continental shelves. The deciduous Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima; [TOH]) is an invasive species that negatively impacts terrestrial ecosystems; however, little research has focused on potential impacts on freshwater ecosystems. This study aims to understand if TOH leaf litter 1) decomposes at different rates compared to native species’ leaf litter, and 2) supports a unique macroinvertebrate community compared to native species’ leaf litter. Native Frémont's cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and London Planetree (Plantanus acerifolia) were used as comparisons to TOH. Leaf packs contained 3 g of invasive, native, or mix of all leaf types (n = 35 leaf packs/treatment/habitat). Leaf packs were anchored in a perennial pond and a headwater stream site and harvested every 2-4 weeks. Macroinvertebrates were identified to Family level and sorted by functional feeding group. The remaining leaf litter was dried and weighed to identify the decomposition rates. The ash-free-dry-mass of the remaining leaf litter was determined to calculate organic matter loss through time. Preliminary results suggest that TOH leaf litter 1) breakdown rate was the fastest compared to other litter treatments, and 2) is supporting a unique macroinvertebrate community dominated by Collector-gatherers and Shredders, which might be linked with the rapid fragmentation of TOH in the stream site compared to the pond site. Understanding how common invasive species impact terrestrial-aquatic connections may help support future freshwater management efforts.