Microbial decomposition of reed (Phragmites communis) leaves in a saline lake

Microbial colonization and its relation to the decomposition of reed (Phragmites communis) leaf litter were studied in the littoral area of a saline lake from autumn to summer using litter bag method. There was considerable fungal population on the leaves at the beginning of submergence. These fungi were probably terrestrial in origin. The fungal population rapidly disappeared few days after submergence, when bacteria, including cellulolytic and xylanolytic types, proliferated. Associated with this rapid colonization of bacteria, decomposition rates of cellulose and xylan increased. The rates declined from day 39 to day 100 with decreasing water temperature, though cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria maintained a sizeable population until day 150. A community of cellulolytic and xylanolytic fungi increased steeply after day 150. It coincided with a second increase in decomposition rate. These results suggest that the principal decomposers of reed leaf litter were bacteria in the initial phase and fungi in the later phase of the experiment.