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Fungal decomposition of river organic matter accelerated by decreasing glacier cover

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah C. Fell

    (University of Leeds)

  • Jonathan L. Carrivick

    (University of Leeds)

  • Sophie Cauvy-Fraunié

    (INRAE, UR RIVERLY, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne)

  • Verónica Crespo-Pérez

    (Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador)

  • Eran Hood

    (University of Alaska Southeast)

  • Kate C. Randall

    (University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park)

  • Kirsty J. Matthews Nicholass

    (University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park)

  • Scott D. Tiegs

    (Oakland University)

  • Alex J. Dumbrell

    (University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park)

  • Lee E. Brown

    (University of Leeds)

Abstract

Climate change is altering the structure and functioning of river ecosystems worldwide. In mountain rivers, glacier retreat has been shown to result in systematic changes in aquatic invertebrate biodiversity, but the effects of ice loss on other biological taxa and on whole-ecosystem functions are less well understood. Using data from mountain rivers spanning six countries on four continents, we show that decreasing glacier cover leads to consistent fungal-driven increases in the decomposition rate of cellulose, the world’s most abundant organic polymer. Cellulose decomposition rates were associated with greater abundance of aquatic fungi and the fungal cellulose-degrading Cellobiohydrolase I (cbhI) gene, illustrating the potential for predicting ecosystem-level functions from gene-level data. Clear associations between fungal genes, populations and communities and ecosystem functioning in mountain rivers indicate that ongoing global decreases in glacier cover can be expected to change vital ecosystem functions, including carbon cycle processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah C. Fell & Jonathan L. Carrivick & Sophie Cauvy-Fraunié & Verónica Crespo-Pérez & Eran Hood & Kate C. Randall & Kirsty J. Matthews Nicholass & Scott D. Tiegs & Alex J. Dumbrell & Lee E. Brown, 2021. "Fungal decomposition of river organic matter accelerated by decreasing glacier cover," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(4), pages 349-353, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:11:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01004-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01004-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Wei & Laurent Fontaine & Nicolas Valiente & Peter Dörsch & Dag O. Hessen & Alexander Eiler, 2023. "Trajectories of freshwater microbial genomics and greenhouse gas saturation upon glacial retreat," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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