Fungal growth and leaf decomposition are affected by amount and type of inoculum and by external nutrients

Mass loss and ergosterol level of Tilia cordata leaves were studied in microcosms inoculated with 1, 2 or 4 of the following aquatic hyphomycete species: Anguillospora longissima, Clavariopsis aquatica, Heliscus lugdunensis, or Tetracladium setigerum. The amount of inoculum (4 levels) and nutrient concentrations (N and P, 3 levels) were also varied. Nutrient level, the amount of inoculum, fungal species numbers and identity all significantly affected mass loss over 21 days and final ergosterol levels. The magnitude of the effect was greatest with nutrient levels. There was no evidence of niche complementarity among the four species in this study.