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Diversity and Decomposing Ability of Saprophytic Fungi from Temperate Forest Litter

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Abstract

This study was designed to examine saprophytic fungi diversity under different tree species situated in the same ecological context. Further, the link between the diversity and decomposition rate of two broadleaved, two coniferous and two mixed broadleaved-coniferous litter types was targeted. Litter material was decomposed in litter bags for 4 and 24 months to target both early and late stages of the decomposition. Fungal diversity of L and F layers were also investigated as a parallel to the litter bag method. Temperature gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting was used to assess fungal diversity in the samples. Mass loss values and organic and nutrient composition of the litter were also measured. The results showed that the species richness was not strongly affected by the change of the tree species. Nevertheless, the community compositions differed within tree species and decomposition stages. The most important shift was found in the mixed litters from the litter bag treatment for both variables. Both mixed litters displayed the highest species richness (13.3 species both) and the most different community composition as compared to pure litters (6.3–10.7 species) after 24 months. The mass loss after 24 months was similar or greater in the mixed litter (70.5% beech–spruce, 76.2% oak–Douglas-fir litter) than in both original pure litter types. This was probably due to higher niche variability and to the synergistic effect of nutrient transfer between litter types. Concerning pure litter, mass loss values were the highest in oak and beech litter (72.8% and 69.8%) compared to spruce and D. fir (59.4% and 66.5%, respectively). That was probably caused by a more favourable microclimate and litter composition in broadleaved than in coniferous plantations. These variables also seemed to be more important to pure litter decomposition rates than were fungal species richness or community structure.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank the technician team of the INRA Biogéochimie des Ecosystèmes Forestiers Unit, in charge of collecting the database of the site, and J. Moukoumi for preparation and treatment of the samples. The authors thank also the GIP-Ecofor for providing subsidies for monitoring the Breuil site experiment, the Marie-Curie association, the Czech Science Foundation and the Swedish Institute. We are also grateful to M. Ruth for the language corrections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, SLU, P.O. Box 7026, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ariana Kubartová

  2. Unité Biogéochimie des Ecosystèmes Forestiers, INRA, Centre de Nancy, Champenoux, 54 280, France

    Jacques Ranger

  3. LIMOS, CNRS UHP UMR 7137, Université Henri Poincaré, P.O. Box 239, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, 54 506, France

    Jacques Berthelin & Thierry Beguiristain

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  1. Ariana Kubartová
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  2. Jacques Ranger
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  3. Jacques Berthelin
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  4. Thierry Beguiristain
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Correspondence to Ariana Kubartová.

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Kubartová, A., Ranger, J., Berthelin, J. et al. Diversity and Decomposing Ability of Saprophytic Fungi from Temperate Forest Litter. Microb Ecol 58, 98–107 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-008-9458-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-008-9458-8

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