Hydrological contraction patterns and duration of drying period shape microbial-mediated litter decomposition.

The length and number of streams experiencing intermittency is expected to increase in response to human population growth, associated water use, and climate change. In these streams, habitat contraction may occur at distinct rates giving rise to drying periods of distinct duration. To date, the impact of drought installation rate and duration have been mostly overlooked. In this microcosm study, stream conditioned oak leaf litter was subjected to either a short (5 weeks) or a long (8 weeks) drying period, originating from a very slow, slow, or abrupt contraction. The effects of these treatments were compared at the end of the drying period in terms of microbial-mediated litter mass loss, fungal biomass, respiration, and sporulation rates. A very slow contraction pattern led to 1.3 times higher mass loss than both slow or abrupt contraction. Fungal biomass, respiration and sporulation rates were up to 2.3 times lower under slow than abrupt contraction. Both drying period durations inhibited leaf decomposition, suggesting an early, critical effect of drying on microbial-mediated processing, regardless of contraction pattern. This seems to be related to an impoverishment of leaf associated fungal communities and resultant lower functional efficacy - species richness decreased by up to 75% in response to a long (vs. short) drying period, despite the maintenance of mycelial biomass. Our results show the relevance of aquatic hyphomycetes to litter decomposition in dry streambeds, particularly following slower habitat contraction patterns. Faster wet-to-dry transitions and longer drying periods strongly impaired microbial functioning, with potential impacts on global processing rates and cascading effects through changes of detritus quality. If confirmed in field tests, such impacts on stream functioning may be mitigated by preserving riparian forests, which may protect against extreme drying events by buffering temperature changes.

Biological testing of a digested sewage sludge and derived composts.

Aiming to evaluate a possible loss of soil habitat function after amendment with organic wastes, a digested sewage sludge and derived composts produced with green residues, where biologically tested in the laboratory using soil animals (Eisenia andrei and Folsomia candida) and plants (Brassica rapa and Avena sativa). Each waste was tested mimicking a field application of 6ton/ha or 12ton/ha. Avoidance tests did not reveal any impact of sludge and composts to soil biota. Germination and growth tests showed that application of composts were beneficial for both plants. Composts did not affect earthworm's mass increase or reproduction, but the highest sludge amendment revealed negative effects on both parameters. Only the amendment of composts at the highest dose originated an impairment of springtails reproductive output. We suggest that bioassays using different test species may be an additional tool to evaluate effects of amendment of organic wastes in soil. Biological tests are sensitive to pollutants at low concentrations and to interactions undetected by routine chemical analysis.

Leaf Barriers to Fungal Colonization and Shredders (Tipula lateralis) Consumption of Decomposing Eucalyptus globulus.

> Abstract Herein we assess the importance of leaf cuticle, polyphenolic, and essential oils contents of Eucalyptus globulus leaves to hyphomycete colonization and shredder consumption. Optical and electron microscopy revealed that, at least during the first 5 weeks of conditioning, the cuticle remains virtually intact. Stomata provide the main access for hyphae to internal leaf tissues and, eventually, for spore release. We suggest that in E. globulus leaves, fungal decomposition progresses predominantly in and from the eucalyptus leaf mesophyll to the outside. Malt extract agar media supplemented with either eucalyptus essential oils or tannic acid completely inhibited (Articulospora tetracladia, Lemonniera aquatica, and Tricladium gracile) or depressed (Heliscus lugdunensis, Lunulospora curvula, and Tricladium angulatum) aquatic hyphomycetes growth. The transference of both secondary compounds to alder leaves induced similar and significant reduction in Tipula lateralis larval consumption. Results consistently indicate that eucalyptus oils are stronger deterrents than polyphenols. The waxy cuticle of E. globulus appears to be a key physical factor delaying fungal colonization during decomposition. We hypothesize that the relative influence of leaf phenols and essential oils to aquatic hyphomycetes and shredders may be related to three main factors: (a) initial distribution of such compounds in the leaves; (b) possibility of their decrease through decomposition; and (c) consumption strategies of detritivores.