Size matters: What have we learnt from microcosm studies of decomposer fungus–invertebrate interactions?

A’Bear, A. Donald; Jones, T. Hefin; Boddy, Lynne

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.08.009

Cited by 51 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(79 reference statements)

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“…Exclusion of invertebrates larger than 1 mm from recently cut logs significantly affected fungal community composition, confirming our initial hypothesis. This corresponds with previous studies that demonstrate an effect of invertebrates on the community composition of lower trophic levels such as primary producers (Schädler, Jung, Brandl, & Auge, ; Stein et al, ) and decomposers (A'Bear et al, ; Strid et al, ; Ulyshen et al, ). Our results also indicated that invertebrate exclusion decreased the rate of wood decay, since the wood density was significantly higher for caged logs relative to control logs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Exclusion of invertebrates influences saprotrophic fungal community and wood decay rate in an experimental field study

et al. 2018

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Decomposer communities perform an essential ecosystem function by recycling nutrients. However, the effect of higher trophic levels on microbial decomposer communities and rate of decomposition is poorly understood. We therefore conducted an exclusion experiment to test the effect of invertebrates on fungal decomposer communities in dead wood, repeated at 30 sites in two landscapes, and measured wood density to assess effect on decay rate. Invertebrates were excluded from recently cut logs by cages with a 1‐mm‐mesh net, and fungal communities in caged logs were compared to logs accessible to invertebrates by DNA metabarcoding analyses. Accessible logs included control logs, cage control logs and positive control logs. We found that exclusion of invertebrates had a significant effect on fungal community composition. For example, the wood decay fungi Trametes versicolor and T. ochraceawere significantly more abundant in accessible logs than in caged logs. The strongest effect on fungal community composition, however, was attributed to differing baseline conditions in the individual trees. When accounting for these baseline differences, caged logs had significantly higher wood density than control logs after 2 years, indicating lower rates of wood decay in caged logs. Further studies, spanning several years, are required to fully understand the influence of invertebrates on fungi and wood decay. However, our results indicate that invertebrates influence both the composition of saprotrophic communities in dead wood and their decomposition function, which is vital to forest ecosystems. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13196/suppinfo is available for this article.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Exclusion of invertebrates influences saprotrophic fungal community and wood decay rate in an experimental field study

et al. 2018

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“…Their meta-analysis indicates that, on average, direct mycelial grazing by invertebrates reduces fungal growth and increases wood decomposition. Up to a point, decay fungi are thought to compensate for mycelial damage caused by grazing by increasing enzyme activity and this, in turn, results in more rapid wood decomposition (A'Bear et al, 2014). There is a level of mycelial damage beyond which grazing has a neutral or negative effect on wood decomposition, however.…”

Section: (3) Biotic Interactions (A) Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood decomposition as influenced by invertebrates

2014

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The diversity and habitat requirements of invertebrates associated with dead wood have been the subjects of hundreds of studies in recent years but we still know very little about the ecological or economic importance of these organisms. The purpose of this review is to examine whether, how and to what extent invertebrates affect wood decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Three broad conclusions can be reached from the available literature. First, wood decomposition is largely driven by microbial activity but invertebrates also play a significant role in both temperate and tropical environments. Primary mechanisms include enzymatic digestion (involving both endogenous enzymes and those produced by endo-and ectosymbionts), substrate alteration (tunnelling and fragmentation), biotic interactions and nitrogen fertilization (i.e. promoting nitrogen fixation by endosymbiotic and free-living bacteria). Second, the effects of individual invertebrate taxa or functional groups can be accelerative or inhibitory but the cumulative effect of the entire community is generally to accelerate wood decomposition, at least during the early stages of the process (most studies are limited to the first 2-3 years). Although methodological differences and design limitations preclude meta-analysis, studies aimed at quantifying the contributions of invertebrates to wood decomposition commonly attribute 10-20% of wood loss to these organisms. Finally, some taxa appear to be particularly influential with respect to promoting wood decomposition. These include large wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera) and termites (Termitoidae), especially fungus-farming macrotermitines. The presence or absence of these species may be more consequential than species richness and the influence of invertebrates is likely to vary biogeographically.

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“…Presumably, priority effects of fungivorous beetles in early succession on wooddecay fungi in late succession are mediated through spore dispersal or preferential grazing. While preferential grazing can have significant short-term effects on fungal communities (Crowther et al 2011;A'Bear et al 2014), this mechanism inherently facilitates one fungus species while inhibiting another. As we did not find any negative relationships between fungivores and fungi in year 4 or year 12, we consider preferential grazing to be a less likely explanation for the positive effect of fungivores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Priority effects of early successional insects influence late successional fungi in dead wood

Jacobsen

Birkemoe

Sverdrup‐Thygeson

2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Community assembly is an integral process in all ecosystems, producing patterns of species distributions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. Environmental filters and colonization history govern the assembly process, but their relative importance varies depending on the study system. Dead wood decomposition is a slow process, allowing decomposer communities to develop within a slowly changing substrate for decades. Despite this, there are few long‐term studies of priority effects from colonization history in this ecosystem. In this study, we investigate the importance of insects in early succession of dead wood on the fungal community present one decade later. Sixty aspen trees were killed in two study landscapes, each tree producing one aspen high stump and log. Insects were sampled with flight interception traps during the first 4 years after tree death, and fungal fruiting bodies were registered in year twelve. We found positive priority effects of two fungivorous beetles, the sap beetle Glischrochilus quadripunctatus and the round fungus beetle Agathidium nigripenne, on the Artist's bracket (Ganoderma applanatum) and a positive priority effect of wood‐boring beetles on the ascomycete Yellow fairy cup (Bisporella citrina). The Aspen bracket (Phellinus tremulae) did not respond to insects in early succession of the dead wood. Our results suggest that early successional insects can have significant, long‐lasting effects on the late successional fungal community in dead wood. Also, the effect can be specific, with one fungus species depending on one or a few fungivorous beetle species. This has implications for decomposition and biodiversity in dead wood, as loss of early colonizing beetles may also affect the successional pathways they seem to initiate.

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Size matters: What have we learnt from microcosm studies of decomposer fungus–invertebrate interactions?

Cited by 51 publications

References 80 publications

Exclusion of invertebrates influences saprotrophic fungal community and wood decay rate in an experimental field study

Exclusion of invertebrates influences saprotrophic fungal community and wood decay rate in an experimental field study

Wood decomposition as influenced by invertebrates

Priority effects of early successional insects influence late successional fungi in dead wood

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