Ergosterol as a measure of living fungal biomass: persistence in environmental samples after fungal death

Mille‐Lindblom, Cecilia; Wachenfeldt, Eddie von; Tranvik, Lars J.

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2004.07.010

Cited by 182 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…An inability to bear this energetic cost leads cells to dormancy or ultimately death (Manzoni et al, 2014). The observed increase in fungal biomass in drought treatments could thus be associated with dormant or dead cells remaining attached on leaf material (Mille-Lindblom et al, 2004). As the remaining active cells allocate energy to cell maintenance in response to drying stress, less energy gets allocated to extracellular enzyme production and the associated decomposition of leaf litter.…”

Section: Effects Of Individual Stressors On Microbial Leaf Litter Decmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined effects of drought and the fungicide tebuconazole on aquatic leaf litter decomposition

et al. 2016

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Highlights• The combined effects of drought and the fungicide tebuconazole on aquatic leaf litter decomposition (LLD) were assessed.• TBZ applied alone had no significant effect on LLD.• Drought strongly impacted the microbial LLD process and led to cascading effects on Gammarus feeding.• Structural and functional effects increased when drought and TBZ were applied simultaneously. AbstractLoss of biodiversity and altered ecosystem functioning are driven by the cumulative effects of multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors affecting both quantity and quality of water resources. Here we performed a 40-day laboratory microcosm experiment to assess the individual and combined effects of drought and the model fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) on leaf litter decomposition (LLD), a fundamental biogeochemical process in freshwater ecosystems. Starting out from a worst-case scenario perspective, leaf-associated microbial communities were exposed to severe drought conditions (four 5-day drought periods alternated with 4-day immersion periods) and/or a chronic exposure to TBZ (nominal concentration of 20 µg L−1). We assessed the direct effects of drought and fungicide on the structure (biomass, diversity) and activity (extracellular enzymatic potential) of fungal and bacterial assemblages colonizing leaves. We also investigated indirect effects on the feeding rates of the amphipod Gammarus fossarum on leaves previously exposed to drought and/or TBZ contamination. Results indicate a stronger effect of drought stress than fungicide contamination under the experimental conditions applied. Indeed, the drought stress strongly impacted microbial community structure and activities, inhibiting the LLD process and leading to cascading effects on macroinvertebrate feeding. However, despite the lack of significant effect of TBZ applied alone, the effects of drought on microbial functions (i.e., decrease in LLD and in enzymatic activities) and on Gammarus feeding rates were more pronounced when drought and TBZ stresses were applied together. In a perspective of ecological risk assessment and ecosystem management for sustainability, these findings stress the need for deeper insight into how multiple stressors can affect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and associated services.

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Section: Effects Of Individual Stressors On Microbial Leaf Litter Decmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined effects of drought and the fungicide tebuconazole on aquatic leaf litter decomposition

et al. 2016

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“…Therefore we can assume that airborne ergosterol concentration indirectly points to real contamination by fungal aerosol (containing viable and nonviable cells, mainly spores). This was confirmed by arrangements made by MilleLindblom et al [6], which indicate that ergosterol is a good indicator of the total fungal biomass because it is characterized by a relatively high stability in air after the cells' death, especially under the lack of solar exposure (UV radiation) which accelerates its degradation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…This compound starts to arise in mycelium at its early growth stage, it occurs in all phases of its development, and, which is significant, it is also present in spores. Furthermore, it is important that ergosterol, as long as it is not subjected to the sun's light, it is a very stable compound and occurs in both non-viable and viable mycelium, therefore it may be a good indicator of real moldiness [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of exposure to fungi in the heavily contaminated work environment (a solid waste sorting plant) based on the ergosterol analysis

Kozajda¹,

Jeżak²,

Sowiak³

et al. 2015

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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Objectives: This paper reports on the results of the study aimed at application of ergosterol as an quantitative indicator of fungal bioaerosol present in the indoor air in occupational environment heavily contaminated with organic dust as well as its comparison with the culturable method. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the indoor solid waste sorting plant. Using Andersen impactor adapted to 1 plate at the flow rate of 30 l/min, indoor air was sampled in the workers' breathing zone. Ergosterol was sampled using gelatinous filter (1000 l of air) and then analyzed by means of the spectrophotometric method. Fungi were sampled on malt extract agar (MEA) medium (3 replications: 2 l, 7.5 l, 15 l of air) and analyzed by means of the culturable method. Based on ergosterol analyzes, concentration of fungi was calculated. Results were given as the range assuming min. as 5.1 pg ergosterol/spore and max as 1.7 pg ergosterol/spore. Results: The average concentrations of ergosterol in a working room (arithmetic mean (AM), standard deviation (SD); minimum-maximum (min. . It was revealed that concentrations of calculated fungi were even 2 orders of magnitude higher than culturable fungi. Conclusions: The quantitative assessment of moldiness by means of ergosterol measurement seems to be a reliable indicator for environments heavily contaminated with organic dust, where viable and non-viable fungi are present in high proportions. Based on that result, more restrictive (as compared to a similar assessment carried out by means of the culturable method) hygienic recommendations, especially those related to the use of preventive measures protecting the employees' respiratory tract, should have been undertaken.-

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“…Ergosterol is part of the fungal membrane, occurs in a relatively constant ratio to total biomass, and is largely restricted to living cells of higher fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) . However, it may persist after fungal death when protected from light (Mille-Lindblom et al 2004). Many Zygomycetes and all Chytridomycetes (as well as Oomycetes) do not contain ergosterol and are therefore not measured -a potential gap in our knowledge of aquatic fungi sensu lato.…”

Section: Quantifying Fungal Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungi in lake ecosystems

Wurzbacher¹,

Bärlocher²,

Grossart³

2010

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

208

170

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This review highlights the presence and ecological roles of fungi in lakes, and aims to stimulate research in aquatic mycology. In the study of lentic systems, this field is an almost completely neglected topic and, if considered at all, has often been restricted to specific groups of fungi, such as yeasts, filamentous fungi (e.g. aquatic hyphomycetes), or phycomycetes (an obsolete taxonomic category that included various fungal and fungal-like organisms). We document that aquatic fungi are common in various lentic habitats. They play potentially crucial roles in nutrient and carbon cycling and interact with other organisms, thereby influencing food web dynamics. The development and application of molecular methods have greatly increased the potential for unraveling the biodiversity and ecological roles of fungi in lake ecosystems. We searched the literature for reports on all fungi occurring in lake ecosystems. The present study summarizes information on the highly diverse mycoflora in lake microhabitats and highlights the main processes they influence. We also point out ecological niches of fungi in lakes that have been examined only superficially or ignored completely. We demonstrate that we now have the methodology to perform systematic studies to finally fill in some of the large gaps in this field.

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Ergosterol as a measure of living fungal biomass: persistence in environmental samples after fungal death

Cited by 182 publications

References 54 publications

Combined effects of drought and the fungicide tebuconazole on aquatic leaf litter decomposition

Combined effects of drought and the fungicide tebuconazole on aquatic leaf litter decomposition

Assessment of exposure to fungi in the heavily contaminated work environment (a solid waste sorting plant) based on the ergosterol analysis

Fungi in lake ecosystems

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