Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition affects many natural processes, including forest litter decomposition. Saprotrophic fungi are the only organisms capable of completely decomposing lignocellulosic (woody) litter in temperate ecosystems, and therefore the responses of fungi to N deposition are cr...

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Manylion Llyfryddiaeth
Prif Awduron: Bebber, D, Watkinson, S, Boddy, L, Darrah, P
Fformat: Journal article
Iaith:English
Cyhoeddwyd: 2011
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author Bebber, D
Watkinson, S
Boddy, L
Darrah, P
author_facet Bebber, D
Watkinson, S
Boddy, L
Darrah, P
author_sort Bebber, D
collection OXFORD
description Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition affects many natural processes, including forest litter decomposition. Saprotrophic fungi are the only organisms capable of completely decomposing lignocellulosic (woody) litter in temperate ecosystems, and therefore the responses of fungi to N deposition are critical in understanding the effects of global change on the forest carbon cycle. Plant litter decomposition under elevated N has been intensively studied, with varying results. The complexity of forest floor biota and variability in litter quality have obscured N-elevation effects on decomposers. Field experiments often utilize standardized substrates and N-levels, but few studies have controlled the decay organisms. Decomposition of beech (Fagus sylvatica) blocks inoculated with two cord-forming basidiomycete fungi, Hypholoma fasciculare and Phanerochaete velutina, was compared experimentally under realistic levels of simulated N deposition at Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire, UK. Mass loss was greater with P. velutina than with H. fasciculare, and with N treatment than in the control. Decomposition was accompanied by growth of the fungal mycelium and increasing N concentration in the remaining wood. We attribute the N effect on wood decay to the response of cord-forming wood decay fungi to N availability. Previous studies demonstrated the capacity of these fungi to scavenge and import N to decaying wood via a translocating network of mycelium. This study shows that small increases in N availability can increase wood decomposition by these organisms. Dead wood is an important carbon store and habitat. The responses of wood decomposers to anthropogenic N deposition should be considered in models of forest carbon dynamics. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
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spelling oxford-uuid:c685cdea-4152-42d3-b9e9-ebf208fd26862022-03-27T06:38:43ZSimulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungiJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c685cdea-4152-42d3-b9e9-ebf208fd2686EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Bebber, DWatkinson, SBoddy, LDarrah, PAnthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition affects many natural processes, including forest litter decomposition. Saprotrophic fungi are the only organisms capable of completely decomposing lignocellulosic (woody) litter in temperate ecosystems, and therefore the responses of fungi to N deposition are critical in understanding the effects of global change on the forest carbon cycle. Plant litter decomposition under elevated N has been intensively studied, with varying results. The complexity of forest floor biota and variability in litter quality have obscured N-elevation effects on decomposers. Field experiments often utilize standardized substrates and N-levels, but few studies have controlled the decay organisms. Decomposition of beech (Fagus sylvatica) blocks inoculated with two cord-forming basidiomycete fungi, Hypholoma fasciculare and Phanerochaete velutina, was compared experimentally under realistic levels of simulated N deposition at Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire, UK. Mass loss was greater with P. velutina than with H. fasciculare, and with N treatment than in the control. Decomposition was accompanied by growth of the fungal mycelium and increasing N concentration in the remaining wood. We attribute the N effect on wood decay to the response of cord-forming wood decay fungi to N availability. Previous studies demonstrated the capacity of these fungi to scavenge and import N to decaying wood via a translocating network of mycelium. This study shows that small increases in N availability can increase wood decomposition by these organisms. Dead wood is an important carbon store and habitat. The responses of wood decomposers to anthropogenic N deposition should be considered in models of forest carbon dynamics. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
spellingShingle Bebber, D
Watkinson, S
Boddy, L
Darrah, P
Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title_full Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title_fullStr Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title_full_unstemmed Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title_short Simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord-forming fungi
title_sort simulated nitrogen deposition affects wood decomposition by cord forming fungi
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