Book of Abstracts (PDF) - International Mycological Association

IMC7 Main Congress Theme IV: POPULATION DYNAMICS AND ECOLOGY Posters
994 - Leaf decomposition by aquatic fungi in heavy
metal polluted habitats
G. Krauss 1* , J. Ehrman 2 & F. Bärlocher 3
1 Microbiology of Subterrestrial Aquatic Systems Group,
UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig-Halle,
Theodor Lieser Str. 4; D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. -
2 Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, 63B
York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G7, Canada. -
3 Digital Microscopy Facility, Mount Allison University,
63B York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G7,
Canada. - E-mail: krauss@halle.ufz.de
The long history of copper mining and smelting in the
district of Mansfeld (Central Germany) resulted in high
loads of heavy metals in streams, lakes and even
groundwater [1]. We followed decomposition of Alnus
glutinosa leaves in two streams, one with a high (H4) and
one with a moderate (H9) load of these metals. In H9, mass
loss closely followed an exponential decay curve; in H4,
leaf mass remained constant after a very rapid initial decay
during the first 4 weeks. Fungal biomass, estimated by
ergosterol measurements, rose more quickly and to higher
levels on H9 than on H4 leaves. Conidium production by
aquatic hyphomycetes was reduced in site H4. Despite the
huge differences in conidium production between the 2
streams, fungal species numbers during decomposition
were similar. After 4 weeks of stream exposure, leaves
showed greatly increased levels of heavy metals [2].
Leaves exposed in site H4 layered with an inconsistent
assemblage of biofilm material, fungal hyphae, extraneous
particles of sediment and metallic precipitate. The plant
material was remarkably well preserved. A relatively high
leaf decay rate may indicate a fungal community that has
successfully adapted to the ambient heavy metal levels.
[1]KRAUSS, G. et al. (2001) Aquatic hyphomycetes occur
in hyperpolluted waters in Central Germany. Nova
Hedwigia 72: 419-428 [2]SRIDHAR, K.R. et al. (2001)
Decomposition of alder leaves in two heavy metal polluted
streams in Central Germany. Aquat. Microb. Ecol., 26: 73-
80.
995 - Fungi and insects - an ecologically important
relationship in a mountaineous rain forest in South-
Ecuador
R. Krettek * & E. Langer
Universitaet Kassel, FB 19, FG Oekologie, Heinrich-Plett-
Str. 40, Germany. - E-mail: roman.krettek@uni-kassel.de
During two research periods at the Estacion Scientifica San
Francisco near Loja in South-Ecuador, we discovered that
specific ecological relationships between fungi and insects
are an important factor influencing coevolution between
the two groups. Especially beetles from the Staphylinidae
have been observed on Agarics. Beetles from the Ptiliidae
have been discovered to be very well adapted to the
hymenial morphology of Polyporaceae s.l.
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Book of Abstracts
996 - Microscopic fungi associated with oak bark beetle
(Scolytus intricatus) in the Czech Republic
A. Kubátová 1 , D. Novotný 2* & K. Prásil 1
1 Culture Collection of Fungi (CCF), Department of
Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská
2, 128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic. - 2 Czech Collection of
Micro-organisms, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University,
Tvrdého 14, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic. - E-mail:
novotdad@natur.cuni.cz
During 1997-99, surface mycoflora of Scolytus intricatus
was studied with respect to its role in transmission of
microscopic fungi. Samples were collected from five
localities in central Bohemia. Investigation was focused on
all different stages of life cycle of the beetle: eggs, larvae,
adults before emergence, adults in generation and
maturation feeding (altogether 500 samples) and also on
galleries (400 samples). Insect samples were washed by
sterile water in ultrasonic cleaner. Suspension and insect
were separately inoculated onto Petri dishes with maltextract
agar. The most frequent fungi associated with S.
intricatus appeared to be Candida rhagii, Geosmithia spp.
and Penicillium spp. A great attention was paid to
occurrence of ophiostomatoid fungi. Two species were
determined: Ophiostoma piceae s.l. and O. cf. prolifera,
both considered to be saprotrophs or weak pathogens.
Frequency of all these fungi varied depending on the
locality and the stage of life cycle of the beetle. During this
study other interesting micromycetes were isolated,
belonging to phytopathogenic fungi (e.g. Diplodia mutila),
wood colonizing fungi (e.g. Acrodontium crateriforme,
Cytospora sp., Libertella sp., Phomopsis sp.,
Ramichloridium anceps, Phaeoacremonium spp.),
nematophagous fungi (Esteya vermicola),
entomopathogenic fungi (e.g. Paecilomyces farinosus) and
many litter and soil fungi (e.g. Acremonium spp.). The
study was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech
Republic (No. 203/97/0037).
997 - Study on fungal communities in mediterranean
pine woods: First results
A. Laganà
Dip. Scienze Ambientali 'G. Sarfatti' - University of Siena,
Via P.A. Mattioli, 4 - I 53100 Siena, Italy. - E-mail:
lagana@unisi.it
Fungi can be regarded as useful bioindicators of forest
ectotrophic stability; mycological studies can be useful for
predicting the fate of forests subject to different types of
stresses. Integrated researches on fungal communities and
their environment provide useful informations about the
ecology and distribution of fungi in space and time; such
informations are preliminary for studies on the
conservation of fungal flora and for the statement of global
change effects. This type of informations are available for
many taxa in central and northern Europe, but is largely