Impairment and recovery of stream ecosystems experiencing multiple stressors: Responses of leaf-associated fungi, microbial activities and litter decomposition (A05)

• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2021 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426547801

A05 will address impacts of stressor combinations on litter-colonising decomposers and the conse-quences for decomposition of leaf litter (CPOM) in streams. Fungal communities and litter decom-position will be studied in experiments conducted in the AquaFlow and the ExStream mesocoms systems, as well as in field studies in the Kinzig and Emscher/Boye catchments. Response variables used will include community structure of fungi associated with leaf litter and associated ecosystem functions, notably litter decomposition, but also microbial respiration associated with decomposing litter and enzyme activities.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1439: Multilevel response to stresser increase and release in stream ecosystems
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Mark Gessner