Fall 2000 fungal monitoring -- marshgrass ergosterol content and ascospore release rates at 10 GCE sampling sites

Leaves of dominant marsh plants were collected from permanent plots in 10 GCE LTER sampling sites in order to assess the relative biomass and activity of fungal decomposers. The quantity of ergosterol, a specific fungal cell-membrane component, and the rate of ascomycete spore expulsion were measured in pooled lots of leaves from the dominant marsh vegetation at each site. Samples were collected from both creek bank and mid-marsh habitats. The dry weight and organic content of the plant material was also measured. This study is part of the GCE microbial decomposer monitoring program, and will be repeated annually to assess long-term patterns of fungal activity in relation to various environmental factors.

为评估真菌分解者的相对生物量与活性，研究团队从10个GCE LTER采样站点的永久样地中采集优势沼泽植物的叶片。随后，针对各站点优势沼泽植被的混合叶片样品，测定了麦角固醇（ergosterol，真菌细胞膜特有组分）的含量，以及子囊菌（ascomycete）孢子的释放速率。样本同时采集自溪岸与沼泽中部生境，同步测定了植物样品的干重与有机质含量。本研究作为GCE微生物分解者监测计划的组成部分，将每年重复开展，以解析真菌活性与各类环境因子相关的长期动态模式。