Fungi and cellulolytic activity associated with decomposition of Bauhinia purpurea leaf litter in a polluted and unpolluted Hong Kong waterway

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1071-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. T. Au ◽  
I. J. Hodgkiss ◽  
L. L. P. Vrijmoed

A survey of fungal succession on decomposing Bauhinia purpurea L. leaves in the unpolluted Tai Po Kau Forest Stream (TPKFS) and the animal waste polluted Lam Tsuen River (LTR) was carried out during the winter of 1988 and the summer of 1989. In situ cellulolytic activity of the TPKFS leaf litter was also investigated. Most of the 28 aquatic hyphomycete species found were cosmopolitan or frequently reported in temperate regions. Clavariopsis aquatica De Wildeman, Lunulospora cymbiformis Miura, and Flagellospora penicillioides Ingold were the dominant species at both sites. Among the 49 geofungi species recorded, lymaphilic species were commonly observed in the polluted LTR (e.g., Geotrichum candidum Link ex Leman, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, and Mucor racemosus Fres.) and lymaxenes in the TPKFS (e.g., Humicola spp., Trichoderma spp. and Gliocladium roseum Bain.). Species richness of aquatic hyphomycetes was higher in the TPKFS (27 species) than in the polluted LTR (14 species), whereas for the associated geofungi, it was higher in the LTR (35 species) than in the TPKFS (28 species). Conidial production was also higher in the TPKFS. Aquatic hyphomycetes and geofungi showed a complementary sequence of dominance in winter and summer, respectively, in the clean TPKFS. Higher cellulolytic activity occurred in the winter than the summer leaf litter. Key words: aquatic hyphomycetes, geofungi, leaf litter, pollution, cellulolytic activity.

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1061-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. T. Au ◽  
I. J. Hodgkiss ◽  
L. L. P. Vrijmoed

Decomposition of Bauhinia purpurea L. leaves in litter bags submerged in the Tai Po Kau Forest Stream (TPKFS) and the Lam Tsuen River (LTR) was investigated during the winter of 1988 and the summer of 1989. At every collection, temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand (BOD5) were measured. In winter, the organically enriched LTR was categorized as polluted based on BOD5, turbidity, and heterotrophic bacteria counts, whereas the TPKFS was always relatively clean. Weight loss of leaf litter at both sites was very rapid when compared with published values and exhibited a distinct seasonal pattern. The decomposition rate of leaf litter (using the single exponential decay model) varied linearly with mean water temperature. Carbon content of the leaf litter decreased during decomposition and was, as expected, negatively correlated with the percent ash content. Except in the first 2 weeks, the nitrogen content of decomposing leaf litter decreased with time at a rate correlated with the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria in winter leaf litter (insufficient data were available in summer). Based on the results of the winter study only, the decomposition of leaf litter seems to be suppressed in the polluted river. Key words: decomposition, carbon, nitrogen, water pollution, heterotrophic bacteria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiru Birhane ◽  
Tekleab Desalegn ◽  
Fassil Kebede ◽  
Kidane Giday ◽  
Hadgu Hishe ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
VC. Oliveira ◽  
EA. Gonçalves ◽  
RG. Alves

Riparian vegetation along streams in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil contributes to the formation of a highly heterogeneous leaf litter in streambeds. To investigate the structure and composition of the aquatic invertebrate community during the process of leaf decomposition of two plant species present along the banks of the stream studied, 21 plastic mesh bags containing 2.5g (dry weight) of leaf matter from each species (Alchornea glandulosa (Vell) and Cabralea canjerana End. and Poeppig), for a total of 5.0g, were placed in the streambed. Three bags were removed after 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 96 days. The taxonomic density was negatively correlated with the remaining weight. The high density of collector organisms, such as Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Amphipoda, on the last day of incubation, probably occurred due to the increased amount of fine organic matter in the more advanced decomposition stages. The highest α diversity (Shannon-Wiener) values were observed for the 3rd and 96th days of the experiment, while the β diversity values showed that these days presented the highest variation in the taxonomic composition, thus presenting a different faunistic composition. This study showed that the trophic structure and composition of aquatic invertebrates changes during the decomposition of leaf litter. The faunistic abundance and diversity observed in this study indicate that the entrance of material from plants growing along streams provides favorable conditions for the colonisation and establishment of invertebrates in lower-order streams, and thus points to the need to preserve riparian vegetation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassie Corrigan ◽  
Maren Oelbermann
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.K. Das ◽  
Ranjan Kumar Manna ◽  
Pranab Gogoi ◽  
Roshith C. M. ◽  
Sajina A. M. ◽  
...  

Abstract Looking into the importance of mangrove leaf litter in regulation of sediment carbon sequestration and nutrient flux in Sundarbans ecosystem, an experiment was conducted at Jharkhali island of Sundarbans. In this experiment, collection of leaf litter-shedding from nine dominant mangrove species during December 2012 to November 2013 was donemonthly using ‘litter traps’ (1 m2) in Eco-garden on the bank of Herobhanga creek.Seasonal litter fall was highest in Geon (Excoecariaagallocha)(103 gm-2) followed by Keora (Sonneratiaapetala) (98.5 gm-2). Kal Bain (Avicennia alba) produced the highest amount (414.37 gm-2) of total annual leaf litter followed by Bruguieragymnorrhiza (410.43 gm-2). Kankra (Bruguieragymnorrhiza), Garjan (Rhizophoramucronata) and Geon (Excoecariaagallocha) dry leaf litters contained more than 50% carbon (oven dry basis). Litter from Avicennia group contained more nitrogen and carbon. Decomposition rates of various mangrove litters were estimated through twoshort-term (30 days and 52 days) in-situ experiments using mangrove leaf litter in nylon net bags (0.6 mm mesh) subjected to periodical diurnal submergence by tidalriver water at Jharkhali. During decomposition process,observation said thatmost susceptible and resistant litter with respect to mass loss were Geon (Excoecariaagallocha) (81±5.5%) and Taura (Aegialitisrotundifolia) (26±4%) respectivelyafter 30 days. The biomass retained after decomposition losses (average45±15.2%after 30 days and 56±20.2 % after 52 days) indicated the amount of carbon retained in mangrove soil and ultimately determines the carbon sequestered in soil through mangrove litter fall. The study gives important insight into contribution of different mangrove species in carbon sequestration and nutrient dynamics in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans.


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