Abstract
The relative sensitivities of decomposing leaf litters to low concentrations (12.5–100.0μM) of sulphite were assessed. The experimental litter comprised four broadleaf species ( Ulmus glabra Hudson, Betula sp., Quercus sp., Fagus sylvatica L.) and two conifer species [ Picea sitchensis (Bongard) Carr. and Pinus sylvestris L.]. Carbon dioxide evolution from the coniferous litter was strongly inhibited by SO 3 2− at pH 3.0–6.0, P. sylvestris being the most sensitive of the litters tested. The broadleaf litters were consistently less sensitive than the coniferous litters. The inhibitory effect of SO 3 2− on CO 2 release from litter was increased by increasing the SO 3 2− concentration or decreasing the pH; coniferous litter respiration was inhibited strongly by SO 3 2− at pH 3.0 and 4.0 over 7 days. Spores of Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries were more sensitive than mycelium growing on decomposing P. sylvestris litter, and both were markedly inhibited by 100.0 μ m SO 3 2− at pH 3.0 for 14 days. The concentrations shown to exert toxicity were the same as those which have been measured in U.K. rainfall and the results provide confirmatory evidence that SO 3 2− exhibits a toxic effect on litter fungi at environmentally-realistic concentrations.
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