Abstract:

To explore the role and internal mechanisms of aerial algae in the decomposition process of forest ecosystem and the effect of aerial Chlorella attachment on the decomposition process of leaf litters, we conducted leaf decomposition control experiments by inoculating leaf litters of Carpinus viminea, Quercus myrsinifolia and Symplocos lucida with two concentrations of aerial Chlorella. The results showed that: (1) the addition of Chlorella at different concentrations had no significant effect on the mass loss of leaf litters. However, there were significant differences in mass loss among the leaf litters of different tree species, with no interaction between them. (2) The decomposition rates of leaf litters from different tree species responded differently to the algal concentration treatment. (3) The intrinsic attributes of the leaf litters strongly influenced mass loss. (4) The addition of attached Chlorella had no significant effect on the abundance and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the soil. However, the type of leaf litters significantly affected the abundance and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the soil. The study indicated that the abundance and diversity of microbial decomposers were primarily controlled by the attributes of the leaf litters themselves, and the attachment of aerial algae had no significant impact on the microorganisms in the decomposition system. Therefore, the decomposition of leaf litters in the local environment is mainly influenced by the leaf's own attributes, and the impact of aerial algae attachment on the decomposition process of leaf litters was not significant.

Key words: epiphytic Chlorella, litter decomposition, laboratory experiment, leaf traits, soil microorganisms, aerial algae, microbial abundance, microbial diversity