A microcosmic experimental overview of durability and nutritional aspects of feces to dung-inhabiting fungi development

Author: mycolabadmin
12/5/2024
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Summary

This research studied how quickly different types of animal dung break down and how fungi help this process. Scientists placed cattle and horse dung in bags for six months in Brazil, comparing untreated dung with sterilized dung that had no fungi. They found that fungi speed up decomposition and help release nutrients back into the soil, showing these microscopic organisms are essential for ecosystem health.

Background

Dung serves as a critical resource for diverse organisms including dung-inhabiting fungi that play key roles in nutrient cycling. The physicochemical characteristics of dung and its decomposition rates influence microbial communities and nutrient availability in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding dung durability and decomposition dynamics is essential for comprehending fungal community ecology.

Objective

This study examined decomposition rates and half-lives of dung from ruminant and monogastric herbivores using a six-month microcosm experiment. The research assessed the impact of autoclaving (fungal exclusion) on decomposition dynamics and nutrient mineralization. The goal was to determine how these factors influence dung-inhabiting fungal development.

Results

Non-autoclaved dung decomposed faster with 30-15% biomass remaining, while autoclaved dung retained 30-75% biomass by experiment end. Decomposition followed a Gaussian linear model with constants k ranging from 0.02 to 0.03 and half-lives of 19-23 days. Nutrient mineralization varied significantly, with micronutrients showing dramatic percentage changes (B: 9,000-15,900%, Fe: 345-733%).

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that dung-inhabiting fungi play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling, as evidenced by slower decomposition in autoclaved treatments. Environmental factors like moisture availability act as triggers for fungal development and nutrient release. These findings emphasize the ecological importance of coprophilous fungi for matter cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.

Published in:Scientific Reports,
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: PMID: 39639096, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-82059-6