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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2018

Similar recovery time of microbial functions from fungicide stress across biogeographical regions

Schreiner, Verena C.; Feckler, Alexander; Fernandez, Diego; Frisch, Katharina; Munoz, Katherine; Szoecs, Eduard; Zubrod, Jochen P.; Bundschuh, Mirco; Rasmussen, Jes J.; Kefford, Ben J.; Axelsen, Josepha; Cedergreen, Nina; Schaefer, Ralf B.

Abstract

Determining whether the structural and functional stress responses of communities are similar across space and time is paramount for forecasting and extrapolating the consequences of anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and their services. Stream ecosystems are under high anthropogenic pressure; however, studies have only examined the response of stream communities across large scales over multiple generations. We studied the responses of leaf-associated microbial communities in streams within three European biogeographical regions to chemical stress in a microcosm experiment with multiple cycles of fungicide pollution and resource colonisation. Fungal community composition and the ecosystem function leaf decomposition were measured as response variables. Microbial leaf decomposition showed similar recovery times under environmental levels of fungicide exposure across regions. Initially, the decomposition declined (between 19 and 53%) under fungicide stress and recovered to control levels during the third cycle of pollution and colonisation. Although community composition and its stress response varied between regions, this suggests similar functional community adaptation towards fungicide stress overtime. Genetic, epigenetic and physiological adaptations, as well as species turnover, may have contributed to community adaptation but further studies are required to determine if and to which extent these mechanisms are operating. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence of a similar functional response of microbial leaf decomposition to chemical stress across space and time.

Published in

Scientific Reports
2018, Volume: 8, article number: 17021
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

      SLU Authors

    • Associated SLU-program

      SLU Plant Protection Network

      Sustainable Development Goals

      SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
      SDG3 Good health and well-being

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Microbiology

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35397-1

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/97543