The cooler the better: Increased aquatic hyphomycete diversity in subtropical streams along a neotropical latitudinal gradient |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, CEP 40170-115, Salvador, BA, Brazil;2. Environmental Indicators Laboratory, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, CEP 79613-000, Três Lagoas, MS, Brazil;3. Post graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Communitarian University of Chapecó Region – Unochapeco, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brazil;4. Laboratório de Limnologia?AquaRiparia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, S/N, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, CEP 70910?900, Brazil;5. Laboratory of Aquatic Insect Ecology, University of Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo 21, CEP 29+102-920, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil;6. Dept. of Biodiversity, Federal University of Paraná, CEP 85950-000, Palotina, PR, Brazil;7. Pos graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade Regional do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Erechim, RS, Brazil |
| |
| Abstract: | Aquatic hyphomycetes are microbial decomposers in freshwater environments that, together with detritivores, play an essential role in the functioning of low-order streams. Here, we evaluated aquatic hyphomycetes communities associated with decomposing leaves of Nectandra megapotamica, a common Neotropical riparian tree, along a subtropical-tropical latitudinal gradient. Two forest streams located in subtropical regions and 3 in tropical regions were selected. We identified 29 species of aquatic hyphomycetes, 22 (75.8%) in subtropical streams and 15 (51.7%) in tropical streams. We also found a higher fungal biomass in subtropical streams. However, the amounts of leaf mass loss did not differ between regions, but the values were higher in summer than in winter. High temperature, pH and electrical conductivity values, as well as low dissolved oxygen levels, negatively affected spore production. These results suggest that the subtropical-tropical gradient is an important predictor of aquatic hyphomycete diversity; however, the observed species had different sensitivities to local environmental factors. |
| |
| Keywords: | Aquatic fungi Leaf litter decomposition Latitudinal gradient Environmental factors Neotropical streams |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
