Increased decomposition, triggered by heat shock found in wood fungi

• Wood fungi can be extremely heat resilient: several studies have shown that species can survive highly elevated temperatures relative to their growth optima. In this study we examine the effect of heat shock on subsequent decomposition rates. Sixteen species of wood fungi were tested over a period of 17 weeks. All strains were inoculated on to sterilized pine wood cylinders, placed in small bio chambers and tested twiice a week for CO2 accumulation. After 8 weeks all species were subjected to heat shock. We found that this triggered an increased decomposition rate in all species, this increase peaked 6 weeks after the shock. the peak was higher in wood fungi species that are associated with forest fires compared to specoes with no such association.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

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