Decomposition of Typha angustifolia and Phragmites australis in the littoral zone of a shallow lake

Decomposition of air-dried live Typha angustifolia (L) stems and leaves and Phragmites australis (Cav. Trin ex Steud.) leaves and culms were studied in a shallow freshwater lake (Lake Fehér, Fertő-Hanság National Park, Hungary) using the litter bag technique. Samples were analyzed for dry mass, fiber (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin) and nutrient (C, N, P, S) contents, litter-associated fungal biomass (ergosterol concentration), potential microbial respiration (electron transport activity: ETS) and cellulolytic bacteria. In terms of mesh size, there were no significant differences in the examined parameters of P. australis leaves and culms and T. angustifolia stems with leaves. P. australis leaves had the highest rate of decomposition and P. australis culms the lowest. Hemicellulose degraded more rapidly than the other fibers, while the lignin had the slowest rate of decomposition. The ETS activity of the examined plant litter types increased from day 91 st to 237 th while decomposition processes were most active, ergosterol contents were high, and there were few cellulolytic bacteria. The counts of cellulolytic bacteria fluctuated during the decomposition period, they were high at the beginning then they decreased. In each case bacteria were found to be the first colonizers of plant detritus, and were followed by fungal growth.