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Decomposition studies on New Zealand and antarctic lichens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

L. G. Greenfield
L. G. Greenfield
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NewZealand.
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Abstract

The decomposition of ground, dead (oven-dried) lichens has been studied in laboratory experiments that aimed to simulate decomposition in nature. Enzymes, common in soil animal guts and soil microbes, solubilized 29% of the lichen weight and 25% of lichen nitrogen. Approximately 9% of lichen nitrogen was mobilized to mineral forms during 97 days' incubation in soil or sand. Low moisture levels reduced the amount of nitrogen mobilized. In short-term (30 days) incubation studies, lichens at optimum moisture but low temperature lost 9% of their initial dry weight due to microbial metabolism. In contrast, lichens incubated for 30 and 135 days at similar moisture levels but higher temperatures lost 19% and 30% respectively of their initial dry weight due to microbial metabolism.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , January 1993 , pp. 73 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1993

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