REAL

Leaf litter decomposition in Torna stream before and after a red mud disaster

Kucserka, T. and Karádi-Kovács, Kata and Vass, M. and Selmeczy, G. and Hubai, Katalin and Üveges, Viktória and Kacsala, I. and Törő, N. and Padisák, Judit (2014) Leaf litter decomposition in Torna stream before and after a red mud disaster. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 65 (1). pp. 96-106. ISSN 0236-5383

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the breakdown of the allochthonous litter in an artificial stream running in an agricultural area and compare it with the same values following a toxic mud spill into the same stream. Litter bags were filled with three types of leaves (Quercus robur, Populus tremula and Salix alba) and placed to the bottom of the river. Ergosterol was used to detect fungal biomass. We supposed the absence of fungi and the retardation of leaf litter decomposition. Only pH and conductivity increased significantly. Leaf mass loss after the catastrophe was much slower than in 2009 and the decay curves did not follow the exponential decay model. Prior to the catastrophe, leaf mass loss was fast in Torna, compared to other streams in the area. The reason is that the stream is modified, the bed is trapezoid and covered with concrete stones. Fungal biomass was lower, than in the pre-disaster experiment, because fungi did not have enough leaves to sporulate. Leaf mass loss followed the exponential decay curve before the disaster, but after that it was possible only after a non-change period.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz
Depositing User: Ágnes Sallai
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2017 07:49
Last Modified: 28 Mar 2017 06:23
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/50517

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