Direct Effects of Elevated UV-B Radiation on the Decomposition of Quercus robur Leaf Litter

Abstract

Decomposing Quercus robur L. leaf litter was exposed for 64 weeks at an outdoor facility to supplemental levels of UV-B radiation (280-315 nm) under treatment arrays of cellulose diacetate-filtered fluorescent lamps which also produce UV-A radiation (315-400 nm). Litter was also exposed to UV-A radiation alone under control arrays of polyester-filtered lamps and to ambient levels of solar radiation under arrays of unenergised lamps. The treatment corresponded to a 30% elevation above the ambient erythemally-weighted level of UV-B radiation. Litter was sampled after 11, 39 and 64 weeks and was examined for differences in mass loss, decomposition constants (k), chemical composition and the abundances of saprotrophic fungi. No effects of UV radiation on k values were recorded, but after 11 weeks, percentage mass loss of litter exposed to UV-B radiation under treatment arrays was 3% lower than under control arrays and 2% lower than under ambient arrays. After 39 weeks, litters exposed to UV-A radiation under control arrays had 10% lower total nitrogen contents and 13% higher C:N ratios than those litters exposed beneath ambient arrays. At the last sampling, litters exposed to supplemental UV-B radiation had 5% higher carbon contents than those under ambient arrays. A 2.4-fold increase in the frequency of lamina particles of litter that were uncolonised by fungi was recorded in litter exposed to UV-B radiation under treatment arrays, compared to ambient arrays. The abundances of the saprotrophic fungi Cladosporium spp. and Acremonium persicinum (Nicot) W. Gams were decreased by 50% and 91%, respectively, under UV-B treatment arrays compared to ambient arrays, and the abundance of coelomycete conidiomata recorded on leaves was increased by 12% under treatment arrays, compared to ambient. Dactylella spp. were not recorded on litter exposed to UV-A radiation under control arrays and UV-A radiation applied under control and treatment arrays apparently increased the abundance of Polyscytalum fecundissimum Riess. on litter. UV radiation had fewer effects on the abundances of decomposer fungi that develop in leaf tissues than it did on those that develop on leaf litter surfaces. We conclude that increased fluxes of UV-B radiation as a result of stratospheric ozone depletion will have subtle but wide-ranging impacts on the decomposition of litters in oak woodlands.