نبذة مختصرة : Degradative abilities of aquatic hyphomycetes and the relationship between fungalmediated conditioning of aspen leaves and feeding responses of caddisfly (Trichoptera) detritivores were examined. Interactive effects of conditioning time and fungal species were determined by conducting preference experiments in separate enclosures with all treatments (conditioning times and fungal species) or each conditioning time with all fungi. Preferences were established by comparison of leaf consumption among various treatments. Interspecific differences among fungi in their physical-chemical modification of aspen leaves were primarily rate-related. For three fungi, preferences exhibited by larvae were not accounted for by either the fungal species or conditioning time alone, but rather, their interaction. The most palatable leaves were those colonized with these fungi at times subsequent to the appearance of detectable pectin lyase activity. At these times, leaves were initially softened, exhibited substantial weight loss and almost doubled their nitrogen content in comparison to uninoculated leaves. In contrast, leaves colonized by one fungal species were unpalatable regardless of the degree of conditioning.
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