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Short-term effect of nitrogen enrichment on the microbial communities of a peatland

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the structure of the microbial loop in a Sphagnum fallax — Carex rostrata fen of the French Massif central, and the impact of nitrogen supplies on the different microbial communities.

Microalgae (46% of the total microbial biomass), Protozoa (26%) and heterotrophic Bacteria (17%) were the dominant microorganisms. Rotifera (5%), Cyanobacteria (3%), Fungi (2%) and Nematoda (<1%) were also present. Testate Amoebae were well represented in Sphagnum peatland (14% of total microbial biomass). Thus, the structure of the protist community in the surface of fen peatlands is notably different from that recorded in other environments.

The input of nitrogen led to a steady increase in microbial biomasses, but only changed the structure of microbial communities significantly when the input was 50 kg ha-1. At high inputs, nitrogen supply increased the relative importance of Cyanobacteria, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Ciliates, and decreased the relative importance of heterotrophic Bacteria, other microalgae and testate Amoebae. The increase in the values of photosynthetic assimilation and heterotrophic activities could also reflect changes in community functioning.

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Authors
  1. D. Gilbert
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  2. C. Amblard
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  3. G. Bourdier
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  4. A.-J. Francez
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Gilbert, D., Amblard, C., Bourdier, G. et al. Short-term effect of nitrogen enrichment on the microbial communities of a peatland. Hydrobiologia 373, 111–119 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017091926454

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