Priming in the microbial landscape: Periphytic algal stimulation of litter-associated microbial decomposers

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dc.contributor.authorKuehn, Kevin A.
dc.contributor.authorFrancoeur, Steven N.
dc.contributor.authorFindlay, Robert H.
dc.contributor.authorNeely, Robert
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-10T18:24:34Z
dc.date.available2015-07-10T18:24:34Z
dc.date.issued2014-03
dc.description.abstractMicrobial communities associated with submerged detritus in aquatic ecosystems often comprise a diverse mixture of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes, including algae, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Recent studies have documented increased rates of plant litter mass loss when periphytic algae are present. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to assess potential metabolic interactions between natural autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities inhabiting submerged decaying plant litter of Typha angustifolia and Schoenoplectus acutus. In the field, submerged plant litter was either exposed to natural sunlight or placed under experimental canopies that manipulated light availability and growth of periphytic algae. Litter was collected and returned to the laboratory, where algal photosynthesis was manipulated (light/dark incubation), while rates of bacterial and fungal growth and productivity were simultaneously quantified. Bacteria and fungi were rapidly stimulated by exposure to light, thus establishing the potential for algal priming of microbial heterotrophic decay activities. Experimental incubations of decaying litter with 14C- and 13C-bicarbonate established that inorganic C fixed by algal photosynthesis was rapidly transferred to and assimilated by heterotrophic microbial decomposers. Periphytic algal stimulation of microbial heterotrophs, especially fungal decomposers, is an important and largely unrecognized interaction within the detrital microbial landscape, which may transform our current conceptual understanding of microbial secondary production and organic matter decomposition in aquatic ecosystems.en_US
dc.identifier.citationThis is the abstract for an article that is available at https://doi.org/10.1890/13-0430.1. Recommended citation: Kuehn, K. A., Francoeur, S. N., Findlay, R. H., & Neely, R. K. (2014). Priming in the microbial landscape: Periphytic algal stimulation of litter-associated microbial decomposers. Ecology, 95(3), 749–762. This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11274/5173
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1890/13-0430.1
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherEcological Society of Americaen_US
dc.subjectBacteriaen_US
dc.subjectDecompositionen_US
dc.subjectFungien_US
dc.subjectMetabolic interactionsen_US
dc.subjectPeriphytonen_US
dc.subjectPhotosynthesisen_US
dc.subjectPlant litteren_US
dc.subjectPriming effecten_US
dc.subjectProtozoaen_US
dc.subjectAlgaeen_US
dc.titlePriming in the microbial landscape: Periphytic algal stimulation of litter-associated microbial decomposersen_US
dc.typeAbstracten_US

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