2 research outputs found
Effects of riparian plant diversity loss on aquatic microbial decomposers become more pronounced at longer times
We examined the potential long-term impacts of riparian plant diversity loss on diversity and activity of aquatic microbial decomposers. Microbial assemblages were obtained
in a mixed-forest stream by immersion of mesh bags contain-ing three leaf species (alder, oak and eucalyptus), commonly
found in riparian corridors of Iberian streams. Simulation of
species loss was done in microcosms by including a set of all
leaf species, retrieved from the stream, and non-colonized
leaves of three, two or one leaf species. Leaves were renewed
every month throughout six months, and microbial inoculum
was ensured by a set of colonized leaves from the previous
month. Microbial diversity, leaf mass loss and fungal biomass
were assessed at the second and sixth months after plant
species loss. Molecular diversity of fungi and bacteria, as the
total number of operational taxonomic units per leaf diversity
treatment, decreased with leaf diversity loss. Fungal biomass
tended to decrease linearly with leaf species loss on oak and
eucalyptus, suggesting more pronounced effects of leaf diver-sity on lower quality leaves. Decomposition of alder and
eucalyptus leaves was affected by leaf species identity, mainly
after longer times following diversity loss. Leaf decomposi-tion of alder decreased when mixed with eucalyptus, while
decomposition of eucalyptus decreased in mixtures with oak.
Results suggest that the effects of leaf diversity on microbial
decomposers depended on leaf species number and also on
which species were lost from the system, especially after
longer times. This may have implications for the management
of riparian forests to maintain stream ecosystem functioning.FEDER-POFC-COMPETE and the Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology supported this study (PEst-C/
BIA/UI4050/2011, PTDC/AAC-AMB/113746/2009 and PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010), S. Duarte (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008) and I.
Fernandes (SFRH/BD/42215/2007)