不同生态型芦苇种群对盐胁迫的生长和光合特性

土壤盐渍化是影响我国土壤利用效率的主要因素之一,芦苇是改良土壤盐渍化的良好实验材料,但芦苇有着多种的生态型,比较各生态型芦苇的耐盐差异成为亟待解决的问题。通过设置淡水(0.00%)与加盐(质量浓度2.00%)处理控制实验,测量芦苇的生长指标和光合指标,比较河口型芦苇与内陆型芦苇耐盐性,寻找合适生态型的芦苇作为改良土壤盐渍化的生物材料。在实验中,与淡水条件相比,加盐(2.00%)处理条件下,河口型芦苇和内陆型芦苇的株高(height)、蒸腾速率(E)均显著性下降,但是两种生态型的芦苇的水分利用效率(WUE)明显提高;河口型的芦苇相对生长速率(RGR)和气孔导度(Gs)都明显高于内陆型芦苇。在淡水环境中,河口型芦苇的相对生长速率(RGR)和净光合速率(A)都显著性地高于内陆型芦苇。结果表明两种生态型的芦苇在进化过程中存在一定程度上的分化,盐胁迫会抑制两种芦苇的生长,两种生态型芦苇的相对生长速率和气孔导度在盐胁迫下出现明显地差异,表明两种生态型的芦苇对盐度的响应机制有所差异。相比于内陆型芦苇,河口型芦苇有着更强的耐盐性,内陆型及河口型芦苇的表型性状差异主要是由于其原生境的差异所决定的。     

室内模拟波浪对2种典型滨海湿地挺水植物生物力学特征的影响

选取本地物种芦苇和入侵物种互花米草为研究对象,利用波浪装置对生长期的植物进行波浪处理后对其形态特征,根、茎、叶的拉力、弯曲特性进行研究,以探讨湿地植物对波浪作用的生物力学响应。结果表明,芦苇、互花米草经波浪处理后的茎直径均显著高于对照组（P=0.008,P=0.03）;互花米草总体呈现拉力或者弯曲载荷高于芦苇的现象（如茎秆）,但应力（根系）或静曲强度（茎秆）却要低于芦苇,即对应了互花米草比芦苇茎秆更粗壮的现象,但芦苇自身的强度会更强,其木质素和纤维素的结构成分显示出显著高于互花米草的现象（P<0.001,P<0.001）。总体来看,通过短时间的波浪模拟,植株在形态特征上发生了显著的变化,而植物自身的生物力学特性与形态、结构成分都息息相关。研究结果对于评价芦苇和互花米草在应对海浪影响的潜力、从植物生物力学角度探究滨海湿地的保护和修复都提供了一定的参考。     

旱生芦苇对地下水位变化的生态响应及适应机制

地下水作为干旱半干旱地区可利用水的主要存在形式,是影响植被生存的主要生态因子。通过人工模拟地下水位,探讨了旱生芦苇对不同地下水位的生态响应及适应机制。结果表明:(1)随地下水位的降低,旱生芦苇净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)和胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)均呈先增后减的变化趋势,其生长季均呈单峰曲线,以7—8月为峰值;(2)旱生芦苇叶绿素(Chl)含量随地下水位的降低呈先增后减的动态变化;(3)旱生芦苇脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性糖(SS)和可溶性蛋白质(SP)含量随地下水位及其生长季的变化规律不一致,但三者在抑制干旱胁迫过程中存在相互补偿的关系;(4)随地下水位的降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量呈先增后减的变化趋势,且随生长季变化增加显著;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性增加显著,且SOD比CAT对干旱胁迫反应更敏感,是适应干旱胁迫的主要抗氧化酶;(5)旱生芦苇生理因子对P_n的重要性大小顺序为G_sSPChlT_rC_iSS。     

Rhizosphere microflora of plants used for the phytoremediation of bitumen-contaminated soil

The microbial communities and their degradative potential in rhizospheres of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and reed (Phragmites australis) and in unplanted soil in response to bitumen contamination of soil were studied in pot experiments. According to the results of fluorescence microscopy, over a period of 27 months, bitumen contamination of soil reduced the total number of microorganisms more significantly (by 75%) in unplanted than in rhizosphere soil (by 42% and 7% for reed and alfalfa, respectively) and had various effects on some important physiological groups of microorganisms such as actinomycetes as well as nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying, denitrifying, ammonifying, phosphate-solubilizing, sulphur-oxidizing, cellulolytic and hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. The changes in the physiological structure of the microbial community under bitumen contamination were found to hinge on not merely the presence of plants but also their type. It was noted that the rhizosphere microflora of alfalfa was less inhibited by hydrocarbon pollution and had a higher degradative potential than the rhizosphere microflora of reed.     

Zinc distribution and zinc-binding forms in Phragmites australis under zinc pollution

The influence of zinc (Zn) on physiological and biochemical parameters was studied to elucidate the mechanism of Zn resistance in Phragmites australis. Zn concentrations in roots, stems and leaves increased with exogenous Zn concentration, while Zn content in roots was much higher than in shoots. X-ray microanalysis was used to reveal compartments in which Zn accumulated in root cortex. Zinc concentrations followed a gradient with the sequence: intercellular space>cell wall >vacuole >cytoplasm, indicating that most Zn was immobilized in the apoplast or sequestered into the vacuolar lumen. Sequential extraction of various Zn chelates revealed that the ratio of Zn extracted with different extraction media was markedly different. Ethanol, HAc (acetic acid) and NaCl-extractable Zn were dominant in both roots and leaves of P. australis. Zn-binding protein fractions were found in the roots and leaves after gel filtration chromatography, among which a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 14kDa bound Zn most effectively. Two newly synthesized polypeptides of 58 and 45kDa appeared under Zn pollution, whereas a prominent fraction of 72kDa disappeared. The involvement of Zn distribution in plant tissues, subcellular compartments and chelates and Zn-inducing proteins in the acclimation mechanism of P. australis to Zn pollution is discussed.     

江苏滨海湿地芦苇和互花米草光合特性对模拟增温的响应

滨海湿地生态系统具有较高的初级生产力,是地球生态系统主要的碳库之一。然而,气候变暖和外来物种入侵通过改变植物光合特征性能使这一碳库的稳定性存在诸多的不确定性。利用在江苏盐城芦苇湿地和互花米草湿地建设的两个增温观测站,采用便携式光合荧光测量系统研究了本土植物芦苇（Phragmites australis）和入侵物种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）光合特性对模拟增温的响应特征和机制。光合作用日调查变化曲线显示,增温使芦苇的净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、蒸腾速率（T_r）和水分利用效率（WUE）都发生了显著的下降,但互花米草的各同名参数却表现出相反的变化特征,表明增温使互花米草的生理机能增强,促进了光合作用;根据P_n和胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）的变化趋势推断互花米草和芦苇光合速率变化均为非气孔限制因素驱动。利用直角双曲线修正模型拟合的光响应曲线结果显示,芦苇增温组的光响应曲线位于对照组下方,互花米草增温组的光响应曲线位于对照组上方;增温降低了所研究植物的光补偿点（LCP）,表明增温可提高两种植物利用弱光的能力;增温增加了互花米草光补偿点（LCP）和光饱和点（LSP）间值域范围,从而揭示了增温可有效提高互花米草利用光合有效辐射的能力;增温降低了芦苇的暗呼吸速率（R_d）,芦苇受到增温的胁迫,在减缓新陈代谢的同时也减弱了光合作用,而互花米草表现出相反特征。由此推测增温条件下入侵植物互花米草同化大气CO₂的能力（即碳汇能力）优于本土植物芦苇,这也是互花米草成为入侵物种的主要原因之一。     

Growth of Phragmites australis and Phalaris arundinacea in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in the Czech Republic

Common reed (Phragmites australis) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) are two most commonly used plant species in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in the Czech Republic. Growth characteristics of both plants (biomass, stem count, and length) have been measured in 13 horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands since 1992. The results revealed that while Phalaris usually reaches its maximum biomass as early as during the second growing season, Phragmites usually reaches its maximum only after three to four growing seasons. The maximum biomass of both species varies widely among systems and the highest measured values (5070 g m⁻² for Phragmites and 1900 g m⁻² for Phalaris) are similar to those found in eutrophic natural stands. The shoot count of Phragmites decreases after the second growing season while length and weight of individual shoots increases over time due to self-thinning process. Number of Phalaris shoots is the highest during the second season and then the shoot count remains about the same. Also the shoot length remains steady over years of constructed wetland operation.     

Species Composition and Inter-annual Dynamics of a Freshwater Tidal Plant Community Following Removal of the Invasive Grass, Phragmites australis

We document the regeneration of native freshwater wetland plant assemblages following removal of the common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel from two sites at Chapman Pond, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA. We gathered field data on composition of the vegetation 1 year before and for each of the 3 years after the removal in fall 1995/spring 1996 of Phragmites by two slightly different methods (hand-removal and herbiciding in one area, mowing/mulching and herbiciding in another). An area where Phragmites was left intact was similarly monitored. Our goals for this monitoring were: (1) to document plant species composition and richness before and after Phragmites removal and (2) to examine temporal and spatial variability in patterns of plant recruitment. Phragmites declined in both density and extent in both plots where removal treatments were applied. Richness, evenness, and density of non-Phragmites species increased steadily from 1996 to 1997 in all removal and intact plots. However, the species composition of the removal plots was richer than that of the intact plot, and more closely resembled that of comparable, uninvaded freshwater tidal wetlands. Rates of recovery of species richness in the removal plots declined from 1997 to 1998, potentially reflecting saturation of available colonization space, or the return of Phragmites. Phragmites has expanded its range in both of the removal plots since 1997. A model of its colonization indicates that Phragmites occupies space through localized proliferation of dense rhizomes rather than diffusely foraging with long tillers. Vigilance in monitoring is needed to document the spread of invasives, to evaluate the multi-faceted ecological effects of eradication efforts on both the invader and the regenerating community, and develop strategies for preventing re-invasion.     

克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根茎叶C、N、P化学计量特征的季节变化

旱生芦苇在水分限制、元素匮乏的环境条件下,经长期进化适应形成了自身独特的生理生态特征,研究其C、N、P化学计量特征随生长季节的变化规律有助于深入了解该植物生存和适应策略。系统分析了克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根、茎、叶的C、N、P化学计量特征及其季节动态,深入探讨了不同生长季、不同器官以及两因素的交互作用对以上特征的影响。结果表明:旱生芦苇C、N、P含量均值分别为393.36、12.43、1.25 mg/g,C∶N、N∶P、C∶P均值分别为54.55、9.96、441.27。整个生长季内芦苇各器官间C、N、P平均含量的变化规律一致,为叶茎根,C、N、P化学计量比的变化规律不一致;芦苇C含量随生长季节的变化不断增加,N、P随季节的变化逐渐减少,C、N、P化学计量比随季节的变化规律也不尽相同。对芦苇C、N、P含量及其化学计量比整体变异来源分析显示,生长季节的变化对芦苇C、P、C∶N、C∶P变化的贡献大于器官间差异,器官间差异对芦苇N、N∶P变化的贡献大于生长季节的变化;说明芦苇生长发育过程中各生长季各器官对元素的吸收利用具有特异性。结合N、P元素含量及N∶P值的大小可知,研究区芦苇生长受到N、P共同限制,且更易受N元素的限制。     

基于野外调查和同质种植园实验的芦苇植物功能性状变异研究

研究表型可塑性和遗传变异在植物表型分化中的相对作用,有助于预测全球环境变化下的植物群落组成和生态系统功能的变化。芦苇（Phragmites australis）是全球性广布的草本植物,种内变异丰富,在我国西北和东部均存在多个分化稳定的生态型,但中国芦苇在更大尺度上的表型研究还非常匮乏。将位于黄河上游的宁夏平原和黄河下游的黄河三角洲作为研究区域,通过野外调查和同质种植园实验对芦苇自然种群的植物功能性状变异进行观测。结果表明,无论在野外还是同质种植园,黄河三角洲芦苇的基径、叶长和叶宽均显著大于宁夏平原芦苇,说明两个地区的芦苇种群之间存在着受遗传决定的表型分化,这可能与两个地区间的降水等气候差异有关。在野外,宁夏芦苇的株高和叶厚显著大于黄河三角洲芦苇,但在同质园中差异消失或相反,说明株高、叶厚受环境影响较大,表型可塑性也是芦苇适应环境变化的重要机制。在同质种植园中,宁夏平原芦苇的叶片氮磷含量较低,但株数却显著多于黄河三角洲芦苇,反映了不同地区芦苇之间存在不同的适应策略,宁夏平原芦苇更偏向于高扩散率的杂草策略,而黄河三角洲芦苇更偏向于竞争策略。此外,宁夏平原芦苇的株高、叶长两个性状以及基径-比叶面积相关性在野外和同质园两个环境中存在一致性,表明了性状变异和权衡策略的遗传稳定性。综上,位于黄河上下游的芦苇种群间存在着适应性分化,这是表型可塑性和遗传变异共同作用的结果,不同来源芦苇对全球变化下的多重环境因子的响应还需要进一步研究。     

基于改进的双作物系数法估算辽河三角洲芦苇湿地蒸散量

以辽河三角洲湿地芦苇群落为研究对象,利用涡动相关通量、小气候梯度要素、群落内水面蒸发量以及芦苇群落生长参数等数据,基于FAO-56模型的双作物系数法,分别计算作物系数K_c、基础作物系数K_cb和水面蒸发系数K_w,分析其日变化动态及主导影响因子,建立基于生物因子和环境因子的小时尺度双作物系数模型。结果如下:(1)芦苇生长初期,K_c和K_cb的日变化呈现早晚高、中午略低的多峰波动曲线;在快速生长期和稳定生长期,K_c和K_cb白天波动幅度较小,早晚波动幅度较大;生长末期,K_c和K_cb夜晚波动幅度较大,白天呈现多峰波动曲线;K_w白天较小、夜晚较高,生长初期白天的数值显著高于其他时期。(2)相关分析表明,气温、相对湿度、风速、株高和叶面积指数是K_c、K_cb和K_w的影响因子;基于生物因子和环境因子重新构建双作物系数模型,基...     

Clonal diversity along a water depth gradient in a declining reed stand as detected by three different genetic methods

Isozyme, RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and microsatellite techniques were applied to determine the genetic diversity of a reed stand declining at the open water fringe for several decades and the accuracy of these methods was evaluated. Sampling was carried out along three transects parallel with and one transect at right angle to the lakeshore. In isoenzyme investigation, esterase and further 11 polymorphic loci of seven isozymes (with a total of 26 alleles) were analysed and 39 clones were distinguished. RAPD analysis involved 11 random decamer primers and, based on 141 repeatably amplifying and polymorphic RAPD fragments, 52 multilocus genotypes were differentiated. In microsatellite investigation, four primer pairs provided 47 polymorphic allelic variants that determined 37 multilocus phenotypes.Besides the differences, all the three methods revealed high number and intermingling (mixed) arrangement of clones at lower water depths, and low clone number and successive structure at the open water fringe of the stands. Only microsatellite analysis revealed different stages of colonization: old successful clone (colonizing the deeper water but almost completely disappearing at the lakeshore edge) and successful but young clone (with large extension at the lakeshore and just reaching the open water edge of the stand) were also distinguished. Finally, the present paper demonstrated that an appropriate data evaluation could make the result of RAPD comparable to that of microsatellite studies.     

种间竞争对香蒲与芦苇生长的影响

为了探究种间竞争对香蒲（Typha domingensis）与芦苇（Phragmites australis）生长的影响,利用根系分隔盆栽试验研究了3种不同分隔方式条件下香蒲与芦苇的种间竞争特性,包括塑料膜分隔（根系完全分隔,无相互作用,无物质交换）、尼龙网分隔（根系部分分隔,无相互作用,有物质交换）和不分隔（根系完全相互作用,有物质交换）,分析了香蒲与芦苇根系形态和地上部生长的变化,探究香蒲与芦苇种间竞争的差异。结果发现（1）在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中芦苇具有明显的劣势。与塑料膜分隔处理相比,芦苇的总生物量、植株密度在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中分别减少了39.14%、49.41%和82.08%、79.22%,总根长、总根表面积、总根体积分别减少了40.53%、44.84%、62.52%和85.7%、82.45%、89.67%,且均具有极显著差异（P<0.01）;根系分隔方式也影响芦苇的株高、茎粗和叶片数,表现为不分隔 > 塑料膜分隔 > 尼龙网分隔。（2）与塑料膜分隔处理相比,香蒲总生物量在尼龙网分隔和不分隔中虽有增加,但差异不显著,植株密度和株高在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中都有增加且具有显著差异（P<0.05）,其总根长、总根表面积、总根体积在尼龙网分隔中分别增加了57.93%、26.5%、8.04%,但在不分隔处理中分别减少了11.57%、14.92%、11.39%（P<0.05）,虽然根系的相互作用对香蒲根系的生长具有促进作用,但植物种间根系相互作用越强,对两者的生长越不利。（3）在不同的分隔方式中,芦苇与香蒲间也存在明显变化。在不分隔处理中,香蒲的生物量和植株密度是芦苇的1.7倍和6.74倍,与塑料膜分隔处理相比增加了6倍,表明芦苇与香蒲根系的完全相互作用,显著削减了芦苇的繁殖生长,增加了香蒲的根系分蘖。（4）通过种间相互作用强度（RII值）分析也表明,尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理下芦苇表现为抑制作用（RII值为负值）,香蒲表现为促进作用（RII值为正值）。香蒲与芦苇互作对芦苇具有抑制作用,说明种间相互作用是能改变植物的适应性和植物群落的繁殖,同时也表明植物根系不仅在吸收土壤中的水和养分中起着关键作用,在种间关系中也起着重要作用。因此利用种间竞争控制植物生长,可以为保护生物多样性和生态系统的功能提供有效的技术支撑。     

Factors affecting iron plaque on the roots ofPhragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel

Phragmites australis (the common reed) was collected at six sites in southern Québec and Ontario, Canada, in order to study the accumulation of iron plaque on the roots. The deposition of iron oxides on roots ofP. australis did not correlate directly with soil measurements; however, the amounts of iron-bound-to-carbonates fraction of the soil/sediment, responsible for the iron plaque accumulation, correlated with the % of water, % of organic matter, % of clay and pH of the substrate. Plants located very near flowing water accumulated more iron plaque on the roots than plants in other habitats through the summer; it is hypothesized that carbonates associated with iron come from the flowing water. In wetlands or sites near flowing water, most root iron was found on the surface, as iron plaque, while there was more iron inside the root in dry environments. Radial oxygen loss from the roots is probably the most important source of oxygen for the oxidation of iron.     

Biology of Platycephala planifrons (Diptera: Chloropidae) and its potential effectiveness as biological control agent for invasive Phragmites australis in North America

Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan clonal grass valued for its support of diversity-rich communities in its native range and feared for its devastating effects on native diversity where the species is introduced. Lack of successful control in North America resulted in the initiation of a biological control program. We used a combination of field surveys and common garden experiments in Europe to study life history and ecology of a chloropid fly, Platycephala planifrons, to assess its potential as a biological control agent. The fly is widely distributed (in non-flooded sites) throughout Eurasia but attack rates are generally low (mean 5–10%; max. 29%). Adults emerge in late June and may live for several months. Females lay eggs at the base of Ph. australis shoots. First instar larvae of this stem-feeding fly overwinter in dormant below-ground shoots of Ph. australis and rapidly complete development in early spring. Larval feeding destroys the growing meristem of the shoot causing premature wilting and 60–70% reductions in shoot biomass production. Early season attack and considerable impact suggest that Pl. planifrons could be a potent biocontrol agent, if it can escape suppression by natural enemies in the introduced range. However, the generally low attack rates in its native range and its dependence on dry sites appear to make the species a “second-choice” candidate for potential release in North America.     

芦苇群落水体质量与芦苇转录本的相关性

芦苇 （Phragmites australis） 是广生态幅多年生水生植物,在全球分布极广。芦苇能够适应并生长在极端环境,如盐碱地、重金属污染地等,这种巨大的环境忍耐能力使得芦苇成为研究植物环境适应性的模式物种,并逐渐成为植物学和生态学等领域的研究热点。目前,北京自然和人工湿地中大量栽植芦苇,其主要功能是净化水体、稳定水体自净能力。为深入了解水体质量对芦苇转录本的影响及二者之间的相关性,首先对北京及河北白洋淀共计32个采样点的8项水质指标进行了检测。结果表明,32个采样点的水体整体处于污染状态,主要污染物为总氮 （TN） 和生物需氧量 （BOD）,并且水质均略偏碱性,且具有高氮 （N）、高磷 （P）、高BOD和高化学需氧量 （COD） 等特征。主成分分析 （PCA） 表明8项水质指标间具有相关性,可被降至3个维度,第一维度是 BOD/COD/高锰酸盐指数 （COD_Mn）;第二维度是 TN/氨氮 （NH₃-N）/总磷 （TP）;第三维度是 pH/溶解氧 （DO）。对水质指标与芦苇叶片 RNA-seq 转录本进行皮尔森系数相关性分析,筛选出247个与水质指标相关的转录本。其中,232个基因 （93.9%） 的转录水平与水质指标呈现正相关性。经实验室单一因子或双因子验证确定了 PB.4621.1 （编码 GMP 合酶） 和 PB.12079.1 （编码 LEA14蛋白） 两个基因更适合用于监测水体中的氮和磷水平。研究为后续芦苇监测水质技术的开发与利用奠定了理论基础。     

氮添加对黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇养分再吸收效率的影响

大气氮沉降增加能改变土壤养分可利用性,影响滨海湿地植物的养分再吸收。目前研究多关注氮沉降量对养分再吸收过程的影响,且研究集中于叶片,鲜有研究区分不同形态氮素对植物不同器官养分再吸收过程的影响。通过两年的野外控制实验,研究硝态氮、铵态氮添加对黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇(Phragmites australis)叶、茎养分再吸收效率的影响。结果表明：两类氮添加均显著增加叶、茎的氮、磷含量(P<0.001),增幅达32.74%—43.22%(氮)、30.91%—36.51%(磷)。叶片氮的再吸收效率为54.14%—67.66%,茎氮的再吸收效率为50.60%—62.85%。叶片磷的再吸收效率为56.80%—70.38%,茎磷的再吸收效率为77.43%—84.95%。两类氮添加均显著降低氮、磷的再吸收效率(P<0.001),但两类氮添加处理下的养分再吸收效率无差异。叶、茎氮的再吸收效率无差异,但茎磷的再吸收效率明显高于叶(P<0.01)。总之,氮添加降低芦苇对氮、磷的再吸收效率,且茎对养分的再吸收也具有不可忽略的贡献。     

生物炭添加对不同水氮条件下芦苇生长和氮素吸收的影响

生物炭能改良土壤从而促进植物生长和氮素吸收,但其作用效果是否受水氮条件的影响尚不清楚。以湿地植物芦苇为研究对象,在3种氮添加水平（无添加,30 kg hm^-2 a^-1和60 kg hm^-2 a^-1）和两种水分（淹水和非淹水）条件下分别进行生物炭添加和不添加处理,结果表明：（1）生物炭添加能促进芦苇根系生长,在非淹水条件下根系生物量增加了40.5%,在淹水条件下根系生物量增加了20.1%。（2）生物炭添加能促进非淹水条件下芦苇的氮素吸收,能提高淹水条件下芦苇的氮素生产力。（3）生物炭添加加剧了土壤氮素损失,且在非淹水高氮条件下作用最强,可能是由于生物炭促进了芦苇的氮素吸收。芦苇氮素吸收速率与土壤氮损失之间存在显著的正相关关系。因此,在添加生物炭时,需要考虑土壤水分状况和氮素富集程度以及植物的氮素吸收偏好。该研究结果可为生物炭在湿地生态系统中的应用提供参考。     

Interactions between detritivores and microfungi during the leaf detritus decomposition in a volcanic lake (Lake Vico – central Italy)

The role of biota in the mass loss of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud was studied in the littoral belt of a central Italy volcanic lake. The research focussed on the feeding interactions between detritivores and decomposing fungi as drivers of the leaf litter decomposition. The litterbag technique was used to assess the leaf mass loss, the number of colonizing fungi and the patterns of leaf colonization by detritivores during 40 days of submersion in 16 sampling sites. Cores of bottom sediment were collected to estimate the organic content and ergosterol concentration as measure of fungal mass. The rate of leaf mass loss showed significant variability among the sampling sites and was non-linearly related to the quantity of organic depositions onto the lake bottom, peaking at about 40% of the dry matter. The rate was also positively correlated with the density of detritivore mass relative to the leaf unit mass, which increased with time. On the 20th day of litterbag immersion, when 40% of the initial leaf litter remained, we observed the best accordance between the two measures as well as the lowest difference in the detritivore mass density among sampling sites. In the absence of animals, the decomposition rate was positively related to the number of fungi on the decaying litter. The feeding activity of detritivores changed both the species richness and composition of the fungal community on the litter. The substrate reduction due to intense animal feeding appeared to limit the ability of fungi to regrow after grazing. As a result, an inverse relationship between the number of fungi and the decomposition rate was observed.