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Reduction of solar UV-B mediates changes in the Sphagnum capitulum microenvironment and the peatland microfungal community

  • Ecosystem Ecology
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Abstract

The influence of near-ambient and reduced solar UV-B radiation on a peatland microfungal community was assessed by exposing experimental plots to UV-selective filtration. Replicate plots were covered with special plastic films to effect treatments of near-ambient and attenuated solar UV-B. The microfungal community from the top 1 cm of Sphagnum capitulum in a Tierra del Fuego peatland was censused throughout three growing seasons, between 1999 and 2002. Sphagnum capitula under near-ambient UV-B were more compressed and held more water than capitula under reduced UV-B. This water had a greater conductivity and was more acidic under near-ambient UV-B, as would be expected with increased leaching from the Sphagnum leaves. Nine regularly occurring hyphal fungi from the peatland were identified, at least to genus. Over three field seasons, no treatment effect on total fungal colony abundance was recorded, but individual species abundance was increased (Mortierella alpina), decreased (Penicillium frequentans), or was unaffected (P. thomii, Aureobasidium) by near-ambient UV-B. Species richness was also slightly lower under near-ambient UV-B. These treatment differences were smaller than seasonal or inter-annual fluctuations in abundance and species richness. In a growth chamber experiment, lamp UV-B treatments indicated that realistic fluxes of UV-B can inhibit fungal growth in some species. In addition to this direct UV-B effect, we suggest that changes in the peatland fungal community under near-ambient solar UV-B may also result from increased nutrient and moisture availability in the Sphagnum capitulum. The subtle nature of the responses of peatland fungi to solar UV-B suggests that most fungal species we encountered are well adapted to current solar UV-B fluxes in Tierra del Fuego.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Science foundation (IBN 98-14357). We are grateful to the Argentinean National Park Service (Administración de Parques Nacionales) for permitting use of the Parque Nacional de Tierra del Fuego. We gratefully acknowledge the collaboration with CADIC-CONICET (Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas), Ushuaia (Director Eduardo Olivero), including access to the NSF UV monitoring station data (Susana Díaz), and weather data for Ushuaia (Rodolfo Iturraspe). Identification of fungal species was verified by mycologists Marta Cabello (Instituto de Botánica Spegazzini-UNLP, La Plata, Argentina), and Bradley Kropp (Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, USA). Thanks to Kevin Newsham (British Antarctic Survey) for advice on methodology and experimental design. Technical support and field assistance in Tierra del Fuego was provided by Nicolás Garibaldi, Ricardo Saenz-Samaniego, and Florencia Díaz. We also appreciate Peter Searles, Carla Giordano, Steve Flint, and Hans Zaller for research advice, and Susan Durham’s substantial statistical input. Improvements to the text were suggested by Michael Peek.

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  1. The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5205, USA

    T. Matthew Robson & Martyn M. Caldwell

  2. IFEVA-CONICET, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martin 4453, (C1417 DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Verónica A. Pancotto, Carlos L. Ballaré, Osvaldo E. Sala & Ana L. Scopel

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  1. T. Matthew Robson
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  2. Verónica A. Pancotto
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  3. Carlos L. Ballaré
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Correspondence to T. Matthew Robson.

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Robson, T.M., Pancotto, V.A., Ballaré, C.L. et al. Reduction of solar UV-B mediates changes in the Sphagnum capitulum microenvironment and the peatland microfungal community. Oecologia 140, 480–490 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1600-9

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