Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests
Climate and litter chemistry are major factors influencing litter decay, a process mediated by microbes, such as fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Increasing atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations can decrease nitrogen (N) and increase condensed tannin (C...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/7/735 |
| _version_ | 1797433381227593728 |
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| author | Philip-Edouard Shay Richard S. Winder C. Peter Constabel J. A. (Tony) Trofymow |
| author_facet | Philip-Edouard Shay Richard S. Winder C. Peter Constabel J. A. (Tony) Trofymow |
| author_sort | Philip-Edouard Shay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate and litter chemistry are major factors influencing litter decay, a process mediated by microbes, such as fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Increasing atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations can decrease nitrogen (N) and increase condensed tannin (CT) content in foliar litter, reducing litter quality and slowing decomposition. We hypothesized that reduced litter quality inhibits microbes and is the mechanism causing decomposition to slow. Litterbags of Douglas-fir needles and poplar leaves with a range of N (0.61–1.57%) and CT (2.1–29.1%) treatment and natural acid unhydrolyzable residue (35.3–41.5%) concentrations were placed along climatic gradients in mature Douglas-fir stands of coastal British Columbia rainshadow forests. The structure (diversity, richness and evenness) and composition of microbial communities were analyzed using DGGE profiles of 18S, NifH-universal and AmoA PCR amplicons in foliar litter after 7, 12, 24 and 43 months of decay. High CT and low N concentrations in leaf litter were associated with changes in microbial community composition, especially fungi. Contrary to our hypothesis, high CT and low N treatments did not inhibit microbial colonization or diversity. The joint effects of air temperature and soil moisture on microbial community composition at our sites were more important than the effects of initial litter chemistry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:16:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ab51cff0b504071823910e1c9d9fbff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:16:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ab51cff0b504071823910e1c9d9fbff2023-12-01T22:20:09ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2022-07-018773510.3390/jof8070735Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir ForestsPhilip-Edouard Shay0Richard S. Winder1C. Peter Constabel2J. A. (Tony) Trofymow3Centre for Forest Biology, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, CanadaPacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5, CanadaCentre for Forest Biology, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, CanadaCentre for Forest Biology, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, CanadaClimate and litter chemistry are major factors influencing litter decay, a process mediated by microbes, such as fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Increasing atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations can decrease nitrogen (N) and increase condensed tannin (CT) content in foliar litter, reducing litter quality and slowing decomposition. We hypothesized that reduced litter quality inhibits microbes and is the mechanism causing decomposition to slow. Litterbags of Douglas-fir needles and poplar leaves with a range of N (0.61–1.57%) and CT (2.1–29.1%) treatment and natural acid unhydrolyzable residue (35.3–41.5%) concentrations were placed along climatic gradients in mature Douglas-fir stands of coastal British Columbia rainshadow forests. The structure (diversity, richness and evenness) and composition of microbial communities were analyzed using DGGE profiles of 18S, NifH-universal and AmoA PCR amplicons in foliar litter after 7, 12, 24 and 43 months of decay. High CT and low N concentrations in leaf litter were associated with changes in microbial community composition, especially fungi. Contrary to our hypothesis, high CT and low N treatments did not inhibit microbial colonization or diversity. The joint effects of air temperature and soil moisture on microbial community composition at our sites were more important than the effects of initial litter chemistry.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/7/735carbonclimate changeproanthocyanidinsin situ decay<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i><i>Populus angustifolia</i> |
| spellingShingle | Philip-Edouard Shay Richard S. Winder C. Peter Constabel J. A. (Tony) Trofymow Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests Journal of Fungi carbon climate change proanthocyanidins in situ decay <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> <i>Populus angustifolia</i> |
| title | Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests |
| title_full | Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests |
| title_fullStr | Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests |
| title_short | Fungal Community Composition as Affected by Litter Chemistry and Weather during Four Years of Litter Decomposition in Rainshadow Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests |
| title_sort | fungal community composition as affected by litter chemistry and weather during four years of litter decomposition in rainshadow coastal douglas fir forests |
| topic | carbon climate change proanthocyanidins in situ decay <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> <i>Populus angustifolia</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/7/735 |
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