『Abstract
We conducted over four months a short-term laboratory incubation
experiment to find the best prediction parameters (i.e. initial
chemical characteristics) to explain differences in microbial
respiration rates and mineral N (DIN) release in different litter
in an acidified spruce forest. In addition, we wanted to find
the link between the activity of key extracellular ligninolytic
enzymes, phoenoloxidases (PhOx) and peroxidases (Perox), microbial
respiration and composition of fungal and bacterial communities.
Samples of spruce needles (Pica abbes) and litter of four
dominant understorey vegetation; lady fern (Athyrium alpestre),
blueberry (Vaccinum myrtillus), reedgrass (Calamagrostis
villosa) and hair grass (Avenella flexuosa), were collected
in 2005, 2006 and 2007 from six sites located in watersheds of
two glacial lakes (Plesne Lake and Certovo Lake) in the Bohemian
Forest, Czech Republic. Litter samples were incubated at 0 and
10℃ in laboratory controlled conditions for 90 days. Activities
of PhOx and PerOx, and C mineralization rate were measured regularly
each 14 days. Litter quality characteristics and endophytic microbial
community structure, based on 16SrDNA-DGGE fingerprint of bacteria
and ITS-DGGE of fungi, were determined at the beginning and end
of litter incubation. Our results showed a close correlation of
phenolics/Pox with DIN release (r>0.74, p<0.001). Using multivariate
analyses, Pox seems to play an important role in the change of
litter fungal and bacterial community composition. At 0℃ the fungal
and bacterial communities of reedgrass and blueberry litter changed
in relation to Pox and Perox activity, while at 10℃ the fungal
communities after the incubation were additionally affected by
the phenolics/NTOT and phenolics/PTOT
ratios.
Keywords: Available phosphorus; DGGE; Extracellular enzyme activities;
Litter decomposition; N leaching; Phoenolics』
Introduction
Materials and methods
Study site description
Litter collection and experimental set-up
Litter quality measurements
Enzyme assays
Extraction of DNA from litter samples and PCR amplification
DGGE analyses
Statistical evaluation
Results
The role of phenolics, N and P content on litter decomposition
and nutrient release
Perox and PhOx dynamics
Change of fungal and bacterial communities in relation to phenolics,
N and P content
Fungal communities
Bacterial communities
Discussion
The role of phenolics, N and P in litter decomposition and
nutrient release
Dynamics of Perox and PhOx activities and low temperature effect
Dynamics of bacterial and fungal communities
Acknowledgments
References