Contribution of ambient atmospheric exposure to Typha angustifolia litter decomposition in aquatic environment

To better understand the effects of Typha angustifolia litter pre-exposure to ambient atmospheric exposure on its subsequent decomposition, we investigated the decomposition of Typha litter during exposure and its subsequent decomposition process, including changes in fungal community structure and extracellular enzyme activity in aquatic environment. Results showed that pre-exposure treatments of Typha litter increased its nitrogen content but reduced its lignin content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. The results from the decomposition of pre-exposed litter in aquatic environments showed that the changes in chemical characters of Typha litter increased its digestibility, which changed the dominant fungal species, their contributions to leaf litter decomposition, and the relationships of enzyme activities with litter mass loss. The changes also promoted nitrate reductase activities. These results suggest that environmental exposure of Typha litter can increase its digestibility.