VARIATION IN THE ACTIVITY OF CELLULOLYTIC MICROORGANISMS IN SEVERAL ECOSYSTEMS OF THE BESKYDY MTS

The activity of cellulolytic microorganisms taking part in a conspicuo us way in decomposition processes is one of the ecological indicators of the state of the habitat. Grass species of the genus Calamagrostis often spread in thin forests damaged by air pollution and on deforeste d areas in the Beskydy Mts. The activities of cellulolytic microorgani sms in Calamagrostis arundinacea and C. villosa stands as well as in t he neighbouring Norway spruce stands, were therefore studied on differ ent habitats in the Beskydy Mts exposed to different levels of air pol lution and climatic impact. The activity of cellulolytic microoganisms was determined by means of the standard mesh-bag method. Mesh-bags co ntaining cellulose were exposed on the soil surface and in the soil. D uring the growing season of 1994, irrespective to the air pollution im pact, the activities of cellulolytic microorganisms on the soil surfac e and at soil depths of 5 cm and 20 cm were 2.5 to 7 times as high in the C. arundinacea stands as in the forests. In C, villosa stands the values on the soil surface and at the soil depth of 5 cm were about tw o times higher than in forests. In the years of 1994 and 1995, the rat e of cellulose decomposition on the soil surface was higher in the sta nds of the C. arundinacea than in C. villosa stands, i.e., 4.47 to 17. 07 and 1.38 to 6.12 mg.g(-1).day(-1), respectively. In both years, hig her values of cellulose decomposition rates were recorded in C. arundi nacea stands on sites under lower air pollution and climatic impact th an in localities at higher altitudes fully exposed to pollution. The a ctivity of cellulolytic microorganisms in C. villosa stands was also h igher on sites under lower air pollution and climatic impact in the ye ar of 1995.