Ecological stoichiometry of aquatic fungi: current knowledge and perspectives

Danger, Michaël; Gessner, Mark O.; Bärlocher, Feli×

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2015.09.004

Cited by 107 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 146 publications

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“…Even though feeding on conidia may have a negligible contribution to the energetic requirements of filter feeders, they may supply macroinvertebrates with important nutrients and fatty acids as suggested by Bärlocher and Brendelberger (2004). Detritivores may also be favored by increases in aquatic hyphomycete species richness (Lecerf et al 2005), which may enhance leaf litter palatability due to complementary characteristics among fungal species (e.g., distinct enzymatic activities, distinct concentration of nutrients, distinct identity and concentration of fatty acids; Suberkropp and Arsuffi 1984;Chung and Suberkropp 2009;Funck et al 2015;Danger et al 2016). Laboratory experiments have shown that different detritivore species have preferences for distinct fungal species Suberkropp 1984, 1986).…”

Section: Benthic Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic hyphomycetes, benthic macroinvertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in streams naturally differing in riparian vegetation

et al. 2016

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Small forest streams and their riparian vegetation are closely linked ecosystems. Stream consumers obtain most of their energy from leaf litter provided by the terrestrial vegetation. Thus, understanding the relationship between riparian vegetation, aquatic communities and litter decomposition may help explaining the variability in aquatic communities and processes among non-impacted streams, and anticipate their responses to anthropogenic-induced changes in the riparian vegetation. We surveyed 10 small non-impacted forest streams in central Portugal for riparian vegetation (species richness), benthic litter (species richness and biomass), aquatic hyphomycete conidia in transport (species richness and conidia concentration) and macroinvertebrates associated with benthic litter (taxon richness, density and biomass), during the litter fall peak. We found significant correlations between (a) aquatic communities and riparian vegetation species richness, (b) aquatic communities and benthic litter species richness and biomass and (c) within aquatic communities. Oak litter decomposition rates (from a previous experiment on the same streams) were also correlated with riparian tree species richness. This survey showed that spatial variability in riparian vegetation, benthic litter, aquatic communities and litter decomposition can be high even within a relatively small area, and allowed the identification of complex interactions between these components of the aquatic detrital food web.positive correlation between aquatic hyphomycete species richness, macroinvertebrate taxon richness, litter decomposition and riparian tree species richness suggests that anthropogenic-induced decreases in riparian species richness may affect aquatic communities and processes. Surveys over streams naturally differing in environmental conditions may allow forecasting the response of aquatic communities and processes to anthropogenic activities.

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Section: Benthic Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic hyphomycetes, benthic macroinvertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in streams naturally differing in riparian vegetation

et al. 2016

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“…Overall, our work has highlighted how little we know about the physiology of the organisms within detritivorous food webs and hence how and why they interact with organic matter and the wider ecosystem. “Despite their global distribution and essential roles in nutrient cycling, microbial decomposers are among the least known organisms in terms of elemental concentrations and stoichiometric relationships” (Danger et al, 2016). We suggest that better understanding the ecology and physiology of organisms in the mesopelagic is urgently required if we are to develop mechanistic biogeochemical models of this important ecosystem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Microbes in the Nutrition of Detritivorous Invertebrates: A Stoichiometric Analysis

2017

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Detritus represents an important pool in the global carbon cycle, providing a food source for detritivorous invertebrates that are conspicuous components of almost all ecosystems. Our knowledge of how these organisms meet their nutritional demands on a diet that is typically comprised of refractory, carbon-rich compounds nevertheless remains incomplete. “Trophic upgrading” of detritus by the attached microbial community (enhancement of zooplankton diet by the inclusion of heterotrophic protozoans) represents a potential source of nutrition for detritivores as both bacteria and their flagellated protistan predators are capable of biosynthesizing essential micronutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). There is however a trade-off because although microbes enhance the substrate in terms of its micronutrient content, the quantity of organic carbon is diminished though metabolic losses as energy passes through the microbial food web. Here, we develop a simple stoichiometric model to examine this trade-off in the nutrition of detritivorous copepods inhabiting the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, focusing on their requirements for carbon and an essential PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Results indicate that feeding on microbes may be a highly favorable strategy for these invertebrates, although the potential for carbon to become limiting when consuming a microbial diet exists because of the inefficiencies of trophic transfer within the microbial food web. Our study highlights the need for improved knowledge at the detritus-microbe-metazoan interface, including interactions between the physiology and ecology of the associated organisms.

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“…However, on days with large differences in mass flux (i.e., July 1, 2011), the required plant uptake would be near 100 kg/day, suggesting that assimilation by plants cannot be the dominant mechanism of nitrate loss at Fall Creek during these times. Still, across many streams and rivers, assimilation has been shown to be important (e.g., Taylor et al ., ; Kent et al ., ), and could be occurring via decomposition by fungi and bacteria (Danger et al ., ; Ford et al ., ) or integration into settle‐able or suspended solids (Mulholland et al ., ). Research focused on this mechanism is needed to say more about nitrate uptake at our field sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate Dynamics in Two Streams Impacted by Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge: Point Sources or Sinks?

Rahm

Hill

Shaw

et al. 2016

J American Water Resour Assoc

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We examined nitrate processing in headwater stream reaches downstream of two wastewater treatment plant outfalls during low streamflow. Our objectives were to quantify nitrate mass flux before and after effluent discharge and to use field and laboratory techniques to assess the mechanism of nitrate uptake. Microcosm experiments were utilized to determine the location of nitrate processing, and molecular biomarkers were used to detect and quantify microbial denitrification. At one site, downstream nitrate mass flux was significantly (p = 0.01) lower than sum of upstream and wastewater effluent fluxes, indicating rapid stream assimilation of incoming nitrate in the vicinity of the point source. Microcosm experiments supported the theory that nitrate processing occurs in sediments. Molecular assays for denitrifcation‐associated functional genes nosZ, nirS, and nirK, provided evidence that effluent contained enriched denitrifying communities relative to ambient stream water. Nitrate loss at the site with greater uptake was correlated with sulfate loss (p < 0.01; r2 = 0.86), suggesting a possible link between sulfate reducing bacteria and denitrifying bacterial communities. Results suggest there is an opportunity to better understand nitrate dynamics in cases where point sources may act as point sinks under specific sets of conditions.

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Ecological stoichiometry of aquatic fungi: current knowledge and perspectives

Cited by 107 publications

References 146 publications

Aquatic hyphomycetes, benthic macroinvertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in streams naturally differing in riparian vegetation

Aquatic hyphomycetes, benthic macroinvertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in streams naturally differing in riparian vegetation

The Role of Microbes in the Nutrition of Detritivorous Invertebrates: A Stoichiometric Analysis

Nitrate Dynamics in Two Streams Impacted by Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge: Point Sources or Sinks?

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