Original paper
Fungal and invertebrate colonization of Salix fresh and dry leaves in a Moroccan river system
Chergui, H.; Pattee, E.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 127 Number 1 (1993), p. 57 - 72
43 references
published: Apr 19, 1993
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/127/1993/57
ArtNo. ESP141012701004, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Experiments were performed on freshly shed willow leaves, some of which were exposed in a fresh state while others had been dried for 48 hours at 40 °C. Their colonization by aquatic hyphomycetes and invertebrates was compared in the Lower Moulouya system, including the main river itself and its tributary, Oued Zeghzel. According to previous results, pre-dried leaves lost more weight by initial leaching than fresh leaves. Spore production and numbers of fungal species were greater on predried leaves during the first two months, but no clear difference in initial colonization by aquatic invertebrates was found. Later on, hyphomycete and invertebrate colonization of fresh leaves increased, so that breakdown rate also increased and both leaf categories had lost the same weight after 4 months. Hyphomycete abundance on identical leaves differed according to the stations. It is concluded that autumn-shed fresh leaves preserved anti-fungal substances that delayed fungal conditioning for two months. These substances were rapidly leached in pre-dried leaves. Invertebrates used leaf packs not only for food, but also for support and shelter.
Keywords
Lower Moulouya system • Oued Zeghzel • tributary • hyphomycete • pre-dried leaves • spores • aquatic • Morocco