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Diversity and functional responses of nitrogen-fixing microbes to three wetland invasions

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Abstract

Impacts of invasive species on microbial components of wetland ecosystems can reveal insights regarding functional consequences of biological invasions. Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) rates and diversity of nitrogen fixers, determined by genetic fingerprinting (T-RFLP) of the nifH gene, were compared between native and invaded sediments in three systems. Variable responses of nitrogen fixing microbes to invasion by a non-native mussel, Musculista senhousia, and mangrove, Avicennia marina, in Kendall Frost-Northern Wildlife Preserve (Mission Bay) and salt cedar, Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) in Tijuana Estuary suggest microbes respond to both species- and site-specific influences. Structurally similar invaders (the mangrove and salt cedar) produced different effects on activity and diversity of nitrogen fixers, reflecting distinct environmental contexts. Despite relative robustness of microbial community composition, subtle differences in total diversity or activity of nitrogen fixers reveal that microbes are not immune to impacts of biological invasions, and that functional redundancy of microbial diversity is limited, with significant consequences for functional dynamics of wetlands.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Christine R. Whitcraft, Jeffrey A. Crooks, and Amanda J. Demopolous for providing environmental data. Generous support from Pei-Yuan Qian of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology enabled T-RFLP applications and collaborations. Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (Graduate Research Fellowships for Serena Moseman), and the University of California Natural Reserve System (Mildred Mathias Student Research Grant). The Michael M. Mullin and Mia Tegner Memorial Funds and the Graduate Department of Scripps Institution of Oceanography also provided financial support. Helpful comments and guidance were provided by Carolyn Currin, and James Leichter. Facilities and gas chromatography equipment were provided by Lihini Aluwihare. Equipment for DNA extractions were provided by the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Guillermo Mendoza provided guidance with Primer software operation and applications. Pat McMillan gave valuable formatting assistance. Tracy Washington and Maria del Carmen Rivero assisted with laboratory analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0218, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0218, USA

    Serena M. Moseman & Lisa A. Levin

  2. National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 1177576, Singapore

    Rui Zhang

  3. Coastal Marine Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Rui Zhang & Pei Yuan Qian

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  1. Serena M. Moseman
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  2. Rui Zhang
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  4. Lisa A. Levin
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Correspondence to Serena M. Moseman.

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Moseman, S.M., Zhang, R., Qian, P.Y. et al. Diversity and functional responses of nitrogen-fixing microbes to three wetland invasions. Biol Invasions 11, 225–239 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9227-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9227-0

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