Interactive effects of aluminium and phosphorus on microbial leaf litter processing in acidified streams: a microcosm approach.
Environ Pollut
; 186: 67-74, 2014 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24361567
ABSTRACT
Decline in pH, elevated aluminium (Al) concentrations, and base cations depletion often covary in acidified headwater streams. These parameters are considered as the main factors reducing microbial activities involved in detritus processing, but their individual and interactive effects are still unclear. In addition to its direct toxicity, Al can also reduce the bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in ecosystems through the formation of stable chemical complexes. A three week microcosm experiment was carried out in acid conditions to assess the interactive effects of Al (three levels 0, 200, and 1,000 µg L(-1)) and P (25, 100, and 1,000 µg L(-1)) on alder leaf litter processing by an aquatic hyphomycete consortium. Our results showed that Al alone reduced fungal growth and altered fungal decomposer activities. High P levels, probably through an alleviation of Al-induced P limitation and a reduction of Al toxic forms, suppressed the negative effects of Al on detritus decomposition.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Phosphorus
/
Water Pollutants, Chemical
/
Ecosystem
/
Rivers
/
Aluminum
Language:
En
Journal:
Environ Pollut
Journal subject:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM