Microbial colonization and decomposition of commercial tea and native alder leaf litter in temperate streams

Leaf litter decomposition in streams is a fundamental ecosystem process that allows for the cycling of nutrients. The rate at which leaf decomposes greatly controlled by its intrinsic characteristics. However, intraspecific variation characteristics poses major challenge large-scale studies aiming identifying environmental moderators decomposition. Thus, several standardized organic substrates have been proposed as surrogates litter. Tea bags were alternative to soil and their use aquatic ecosystems has growing recent years. It therefore necessary evaluate how tea colonized decomposed microbial decomposers assess usefulness surrogate studies. Here we compared colonization (based on reproductive activity hyphomycetes) green rooibos teas native alder two differing conditions. Colonization was lower than litter, but rates similar. In contrast, similar it 3–4 × slower. Results consistent both streams. Despite differences magnitude, dynamics those sensitive substrate may be used addressing microbial-driven