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Exposure to nitrogen does not eliminate N2 fixation in the feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.

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Abstract

Background and aims

The feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. is colonized by cyanobacteria, which fix substantial amounts of atmospheric nitrogen (N) in pristine and N-poor ecosystems. Cyanobacterial N2 fixation is inhibited by N deposition. However, the threshold of N input that leads to the inhibition of N2 fixation has not been adequately investigated. Further, the ability of N2 fixation to recover in mosses from high N deposition areas has not been studied to date.

Methods

We conducted two laboratory studies in which we (1) applied a range of concentrations of N as NH4NO3 to mosses from low N-deposition areas, and (2) we deprived mosses from a high N-deposition area of N to test their ability to recover N2 fixation.

Results

Higher addition rates (up to 10 kg N ha−1) did not systematically inhibit N2 fixation in P. schreberi. Conversely, upon weeks of N deprivation of mosses from a high N environment, N2 fixation rates increased.

Conclusions

The threshold of total N deposition above which N2 fixation in P. schreberi is inhibited is likely to be > 10 kg N ha−1. Further, cyanobacteria are able to recover from high N inputs and are able to fix atmospheric N2 after a period of N deprivation.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by Bangor University. We thank Dr. J. Rousk for helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

    Kathrin Rousk, Davey L. Jones & Thomas H. DeLuca

  2. Section of Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Kathrin Rousk

  3. School of Environment and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, USA

    Thomas H. DeLuca

Authors
  1. Kathrin Rousk
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  2. Davey L. Jones
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  3. Thomas H. DeLuca
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Correspondence to Kathrin Rousk.

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Responsible Editor: Katharina Pawlowski.

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Fig. S1

Relationship between numbers of cyanobacteria on P. schreberi leaves and acetylene reduction (μmol m−2 d−1) in the moss. Numbers of cyanobacteria were counted after 24 weeks of N deprivation. Shown are total cyanobacterial counts in moss from all sampling sites (n = 12). Regression equation, regression line and r2 values are given. (DOC 69 kb)

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Rousk, K., Jones, D.L. & DeLuca, T.H. Exposure to nitrogen does not eliminate N2 fixation in the feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.. Plant Soil 374, 513–521 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1908-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1908-5

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