Responses of aquatic fungal communities to multiple stressors and consequences for leaf decomposition (A21*)

• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426547801

Project A21 aims to investigate the responses of fungal communities associated with leaf decomposition to multiple stressors by conducting studies with different complexity. Using lab-based microcosm experiments responses of pre-stressed fungal communities to temperature, salinity and drought stress will be studied over prolonged durations including potential recovery processes. Additionally, food choices of pre-stressed gammarids between different fungal communities will be studied. Within the two outdoor mesocosm studies as well as the collaborative field study, food web effects of multiple stressors will be examined with a focus on leaf decomposition.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1439: Multilevel response to stressor increase and release in stream ecosystems (RESIST)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Project Head: Dr. Verena C. Schreiner