The effect of temperature on leaf decomposition and diversity of associated aqu...

• Author(s): Gonçalves, Ana Lucia ; Graça, Manuel A. S. ; Canhoto, Cristina
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/24967
• Origin: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
• Subject(s): Fungal diversity; Litter quality; Stream ecosystems; Temperature
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

We examine the relative importance of substrate quality and temperature in the establishment of aquatic hyphomycete assemblages and in their ability to decompose leaves. We used leaves of alder (Alnus glutinosa) and oak (Quercus robur) and we tested four temperatures (5 , 10 , 15 and 20 C). Differences in decomposition rates and fungal assemblages were higher substrata than across temperatures. In both species, decomposition efficiency measured as the ratio of decay rate to fungal biomass, was greater at higher temperatures. Oak leaves were colonized by fewer aquatic hyphomycete species than was alder. Decomposition rates of oak increased with temperature but that of alder was not affected. We conclude that the substratum is a key driver of aquatic hyphomycete assemblages and can attenuate the effects of temperature differences on litter decomposition. This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE e Operational Factors of Competitiveness Program (POFC-COMPETE) and national funds through FCT e Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project “Predicting the effect of global warming on stream ecosystems” (FCT Ref: PTDC/CLI/67180/ 2006; COMPETE Ref: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007112). The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology also supported ALG (reference SFRH/BD/47089/2008).