Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN/A) can not only alter the behavior and communication of biological organisms, it can also interact with other stressors. Despite its widespread use and the numerous potential ecological effects, little is known about the impact of ALAN on plant litter decomposition under cadmium (Cd) pollution in aquatic ecosystems. In an indoor microcosm experiment, we tested single and combined effects of ALAN and Cd on the activities and community structure of fungi associated with plant litter. The results showed that ALAN and/or Cd can change both water and leaf litter characteristics. ALAN exposure not only altered fungal community structure and their correlations, but also increased the activities of alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and cellobiohydrolase. The leaf litter decomposition rate was 71% higher in the A-Cd treatment than that in the N-Cd treatment, indicating that the presence of ALAN weakened the negative impact of Cd on leaf litter decomposition. These results suggested that ALAN exposure mitigated the negative effect of Cd on leaf litter decomposition, contributing to the duel effect of ALAN on leaf litter decomposition. Overall, the results expand our understanding of ALAN on the environment and highlight the contribution of ALAN to Cd toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.
Highlights
Plant litter decomposition plays an important role and provides key ecosystem services through the cycling of organic matter in the freshwater ecosystem governed by microbial decomposers [1]
Our recent studies have shown that artificial light at night (ALAN) could alleviate the negative effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or Pb on plant litter decomposition in streams and affect the fungal community composition and function associated with litter decomposition [10,13]
The present study aimed to investigate the interactive effects of ALAN and/or Cd on leaf litter decomposition in freshwater ecosystems
Summary
Plant litter decomposition plays an important role and provides key ecosystem services through the cycling of organic matter in the freshwater ecosystem governed by microbial decomposers [1]. Fungi have proven to dominate the leaf litter decomposition and are more sensitive to contaminants than bacteria, providing a suitable model to assess contaminant effects on complex ecological systems [2,3]. Our recent studies have shown that ALAN could alleviate the negative effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or Pb on plant litter decomposition in streams and affect the fungal community composition and function associated with litter decomposition [10,13]. Despite our increasing understanding of the interaction effects of ALAN and chemical pollutants on plant litter decomposition, we still know little about the mechanisms by which microbes adjust their community composition and function in response to ALAN
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