Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Encarnacion Fenoy, Arunava Pradhan, Claudia Pascoal, Juan Rubio-Rios, Daniela Batista, Francisco J. Moyano-Lopez, Fernanda Cassio, J. Jesus Casas
Summary: Evidence suggests a strong connection between biodiversity and ecosystem functions in aquatic fungal communities, which can be influenced by environmental variables and leaf-litter traits. Functional redundancy among fungi may counteract the effects of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functioning. Temperature and nutrients impact taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic fungi in leaf-litter decomposition processes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Danushka S. Tennakoon, Chang-Hsin Kuo, Witoon Purahong, Eleni Gentekaki, Chayakorn Pumas, Itthayakorn Promputtha, Kevin D. Hyde
Summary: This study investigates the effects of tree species and leaf litter chemistry on fungal community succession during leaf litter decomposition. The results show that closely related tree species have different fungal communities during decomposition, and a high number of fungal species are specific to a particular tree species. Fungal diversity increases at the beginning of leaf decay and declines at the final stages. This study contributes to our understanding of fungal diversity and provides a database for future studies.
Article
Agronomy
Francois Maillard, Valentin Leduc, Chloe Viotti, Allison L. L. Gill, Emmanuelle Morin, Arnaud Reichard, Isabelle Ziegler-Devin, Bernhard Zeller, Marc Buee
Summary: In temperate forests, fungi play a crucial role in the decomposition of leaf litter. However, their influence on the chemical changes in leaf litter remains poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the main factors driving leaf litter chemical transformation during decomposition by conducting a long-term transplantation experiment.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter G. Kennedy, Francois Maillard
Summary: Dead microbial cells, known as necromass, are important sources of carbon and nutrients in soils. Recent studies have focused on the microbial communities associated with decomposing fungal necromass in different terrestrial ecosystems. This article highlights the ecological patterns and research frontiers of the fungal necrobiome, and suggests that combining laboratory assays with field-based surveys and experiments will enhance our understanding of its composition and role in soil biogeochemical cycling.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Tyler M. Rippel, Gina M. Wimp
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in fungal communities and their functionality during senescence and litter decomposition of the foundation plant species Spartina patens. The research found that different types of plant biomass hosted unique fungal communities and litter chemistry. Functional groups in live biomass were replaced by diverse saprotrophs during senescence, and lignocellulose saprotrophs showed the highest abundance in lower thatch.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patrick Baudy, Jochen P. Zubrod, Marco Konschak, Nina Roeder, Thu Huyen Nguyen, Verena C. Schreiner, Christiane Baschien, Ralf Schulz, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Aquatic hyphomycetes play important roles in stream ecosystems, but are at risk from fungicide exposure. Fungicide exposure may lead to shifts in fungal community composition, impacting leaf decomposition. Tolerant species in mixed cultures help safeguard the decomposition process.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Matevz Likar, Mateja Grasic, Blaz Stres, Marjana Regvar, Alenka Gaberscik
Summary: This study is about the metagenomic sequencing of initial fungal communities on decomposing common reed leaves under different environmental conditions. Results show that a complex network of fungi forms on the plant and persists into the decomposition phase. The geographic source of the litter and leaf age do not affect the structure and diversity of fungal communities.
Article
Ecology
Alexander Feckler, Patrick Baudy-Groh, Lisa Friedrichs, Sara Goncalves, Simon Luederwald, Ute Risse-Buhl, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Heterotrophic microbial decomposers colonize submerged leaf litter in close proximity to periphytic algae, which release labile organic carbon. The exudates from periphytic algae can either stimulate or reduce leaf litter decomposition. This study found that diatoms reduced alder decomposition and associated fungal abundance, indicating negative priming. It is suggested that alder-associated heterotrophs obtained energy from diatom exudates and channeled it to alternative pathways, potentially affecting energy and nutrient availability in the food web.
Article
Forestry
Ying Lu, Liudong Zhang, Kun Li, Ruiqiang Ni, Rongchu Han, Chuanrong Li, Caihong Zhang, Weixing Shen, Zhongjun Zhang
Summary: Microorganisms play a crucial role in litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. The diversity and composition of bacterial communities are influenced by litter species and tissues, which are correlated with the initial chemical properties of the litter.
Article
Plant Sciences
Enkhmaa Erdenebileg, Congwen Wang, Wanying Yu, Xuehua Ye, Xu Pan, Zhenying Huang, Guofang Liu, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
Summary: The study investigated the carbon and nitrogen dynamics of leaf and root litters of different qualities in different positions, revealing the influence of plant functional types on decomposition rates and C:N ratios.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Guang Zhou, Jing Wan, Zhenjun Gu, Wei Ding, Shan Hu, Qiang Du, Shengwang Meng, Chunxia Yang
Summary: The biodiversity of litter can regulate carbon and nutrient cycling during mixed decomposition. The decomposition rates of mixed litters often deviate from those predicted for individual litter species. This study found that different carbon fractions in mixed litter responded differently to litter diversity, with soluble carbon fractions decomposing more slowly and lignin fractions decaying more quickly than expected. Furthermore, the relative mixing effects of bulk litter decomposition may be determined by the decomposition of the lignin fraction.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Meiqi Yin, Lele Liu, Yiming Wu, Wenyi Sheng, Xiangyan Ma, Ning Du, Pengcheng Zhu, Cui Wang, Zhaojie Cui, Hans Brix, Franziska Eller, Weihua Guo
Summary: This study examines the effects of species and genetic diversity on litter decomposition in coastal wetlands. The results show that higher species and genetic diversity have negative effects on plant litter decomposition.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jaqueline Bail, Jose Alejandro Morales Gomez, Giselle Cristina de Oliveira Vaz, Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro, Rafaella Costa Bonugli-Santos
Summary: The study evaluated the fungal community composition during litter decomposition in areas invaded or not invaded by Tradescantia zebrina in the Atlantic Forest. The invaded sample showed higher richness and a difference in species dominance. The presence of Basidiomycota was more predominant in the non-invaded areas, indicating a difference in fungal biodiversity between the two areas.
Article
Soil Science
Rudi C. Swart, Michael J. Samways, Francois Roets
Summary: The reasons for the higher-than-expected soil and litter faunal diversity, especially in terms of specialization of arthropod detritivores towards leaf-litter species, are still poorly understood. This study assessed soil detritivorous arthropod diversity patterns in relation to eight green leaf-litter species in an old-growth, diverse southern Afrotemperate forest. The results showed that ground-dwelling, detritivore arthropods are largely generalist towards leaf-litter species, and decomposition rates were largely independent of the diversity of detritivorous arthropods.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Feilong Li, Yan Zhang, Florian Altermatt, Xiaowei Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates that combining environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and measurements of ecosystem functions with physicochemical elements can more accurately assess the ecological status of rivers and improve assessment accuracy and biodiversity. Using 40 indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, the study shows effective prediction of human impacts on ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rebeca Arias-Real, Cayetano Gutierrez-Canovas, Isabel Munoz, Claudia Pascoal, Margarita Menendez
Summary: Research shows that under drying conditions, fungal biodiversity has a positive effect on organic matter decomposition and fungal biomass accrual; changes in fungal species composition are mainly driven by species turnover. Maintaining high levels of biodiversity is crucial for maintaining functional freshwater ecosystems in response to ongoing and future environmental changes.
Article
Ecology
Francisco Carvalho, Claudia Pascoal, Fernanda Cassio, Amilcar Teixeira, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: Invasive signal crayfish have negative impacts on taxonomic and functional biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. Their presence leads to a decrease in invertebrate abundance, richness, and diversity, as well as changes in community structure. Additionally, crayfish presence increases leaf litter breakdown, but this effect decreases at sites with higher crayfish abundance.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Encarnacion Fenoy, Arunava Pradhan, Claudia Pascoal, Juan Rubio-Rios, Daniela Batista, Francisco J. Moyano-Lopez, Fernanda Cassio, J. Jesus Casas
Summary: Evidence suggests a strong connection between biodiversity and ecosystem functions in aquatic fungal communities, which can be influenced by environmental variables and leaf-litter traits. Functional redundancy among fungi may counteract the effects of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functioning. Temperature and nutrients impact taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic fungi in leaf-litter decomposition processes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Diana Graca, Isabel Fernandes, Fernanda Cassio, Claudia Pascoal
Summary: This study finds that stressors related to global change affect the growth of aquatic hyphomycetes, and the response to nutrient enrichment and moisture varies among different strains. Intraspecific diversity becomes more important in response to increasing stress gradient.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francisco Carvalho, Ronaldo Sousa, Fernanda Cassio, Claudia Pascoal
Summary: Climate change is expected to affect the impacts of invasive alien species. Under increased temperatures, competitive interactions may occur between invasive crayfish species, leading to different effects on leaf-litter breakdown and fine particulate organic matter production.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Daniela Batista, Arunava Pradhan, Claudia Pascoal, Fernanda Cassio
Summary: This study assessed the impacts of different sizes of plastic on decomposers in freshwater ecosystems, finding that plastics have both direct and indirect effects on microbial decomposers and higher trophic levels. The properties of plastic appear to influence its toxicity to organisms.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo Franco-Duarte, Isabel Fernandes, Vladislav Gulis, Fernanda Cassio, Claudia Pascoal
Summary: Aquatic hyphomycetes play an important role in decomposing organic matter in freshwater ecosystems. This study used the ITS rDNA barcodes database to explore their molecular diversity and distribution patterns. The findings showed an increase in the number of aquatic hyphomycete species, providing insights into their taxonomic placement and biogeographical origins. Future research should focus on expanding the ITS sequence database for species with unclear phylogenetic relationships and limited sequences.
Article
Biology
Sergi Sabater, Anna Freixa, Laura Jimenez, Julio Lopez-Doval, Giorgio Pace, Claudia Pascoal, Nuria Perujo, Dylan Craven, Juan David Gonzalez-Trujillo
Summary: Both gradual and extreme weather changes have complex ecological responses in river ecosystems, but the effects of trend or event changes on biodiversity and functioning are still unclear. A comprehensive analysis of 71 published studies showed that extreme changes in water flow and temperature significantly reduce species richness, while gradual changes have no such effect. Event effects, particularly those affecting hydrological dynamics, have twice the impact on biodiversity and primary productivity compared to gradual changes. Dryness associated with flow interruption has the largest impact on river biota and ecosystem functions among extreme weather events.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
G. Pace, C. Gutierrez-Canovas, R. Henriques, C. Carvalho-Santos, F. Cassio, C. Pascoal
Summary: This study evaluates the capacity of remote sensing to detect river biomonitoring quality elements, finding that remote sensing indicators are correlated with riparian vegetation quality and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and can predict changes in vascular plant biomass.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebeca Arias-Real, Margarita Menendez, Isabel Munoz, Claudia Pascoal
Summary: Fungi in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams have different strategies and adaptations to cope with drying, but these adaptations may have trade-offs that affect ecosystem functioning. This study found that drying duration and frequency were the most influential variables in determining fungal species differentiation. The research also identified four drying niche-based groups with different responses to drying. Furthermore, the study showed that species in the drying specialist group had a weak contribution to ecosystem processes, indicating trade-offs between drying resistance and growth energy.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Jose Pedro Ramiao, Claudia Carvalho-Santos, Rute Pinto, Claudia Pascoal
Summary: Climate change is expected to significantly reduce hydropower generation by decreasing reservoir flow-in. This study assessed the impact of climate change on a Portuguese river basin and found that the short-term reservoir flow-in may decrease by 55% and the long-term by 90%. The findings are important for policymakers and water managers in anticipating the impact of climate change on hydropower generation and planning for a renewable energy transition.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Lourenco, C. Gutierrez-Canovas, F. Carvalho, F. Cassio, C. Pascoal, G. Pace
Summary: Freshwaters are extremely vulnerable due to various stressors caused by human activities and environmental changes. A comprehensive study was conducted in North Portugal, analyzing the effects of multiple stressors on macroinvertebrates. The study found that nutrient enrichment, dissolved oxygen depletion, and thermal stress were the most significant stressors, affecting both taxonomic and functional diversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
H. Salazar, P. M. Martins, Daniela Batista, K. P. Shejale, R. K. Sharma, R. Krishnapriya, S. Ferdov, G. Botelho, A. Fidalgo-Marijuan, Fernanda Cassio, S. Lanceros-Mendez
Summary: The application of nanomaterials in removing arsenic from water is one of the most promising remediation methods. This study evaluates the adsorption capacity of three active materials with different properties and confirms their suitability for arsenic water remediation applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
