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N-2 Fixation in Feather Mosses is a Sensitive Indicator of N Deposition in Boreal Forests

Ackermann, Kathrin ; Zackrisson, Olle ; Rousk, Johannes LU ; Jones, David L. and DeLuca, Thomas H. (2012) In Ecosystems 15(6). p.986-998
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fixation in the feather moss-cyanobacteria association represents a major N source in boreal forests which experience low levels of N deposition; however, little is known about the effects of anthropogenic N inputs on the rate of fixation of atmospheric N-2 in mosses and the succeeding effects on soil nutrient concentrations and microbial community composition. We collected soil samples and moss shoots of Pleurozium schreberi at six distances along busy and remote roads in northern Sweden to assess the influence of road-derived N inputs on N-2 fixation in moss, soil nutrient concentrations and microbial communities. Soil nutrients were similar between busy and remote roads; N-2 fixation was higher in mosses along the remote... (More)
Nitrogen (N) fixation in the feather moss-cyanobacteria association represents a major N source in boreal forests which experience low levels of N deposition; however, little is known about the effects of anthropogenic N inputs on the rate of fixation of atmospheric N-2 in mosses and the succeeding effects on soil nutrient concentrations and microbial community composition. We collected soil samples and moss shoots of Pleurozium schreberi at six distances along busy and remote roads in northern Sweden to assess the influence of road-derived N inputs on N-2 fixation in moss, soil nutrient concentrations and microbial communities. Soil nutrients were similar between busy and remote roads; N-2 fixation was higher in mosses along the remote roads than along the busy roads and increased with increasing distance from busy roads up to rates of N-2 fixation similar to remote roads. Throughfall N was higher in sites adjacent to the busy roads but showed no distance effect. Soil microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition exhibited a weak pattern regarding road type. Concentrations of bacterial and total PLFAs decreased with increasing distance from busy roads, whereas fungal PLFAs showed no distance effect. Our results show that N-2 fixation in feather mosses is highly affected by N deposition, here derived from roads in northern Sweden. Moreover, as other measured factors showed only weak differences between the road types, atmospheric N-2 fixation in feather mosses represents a highly sensitive indicator for increased N loads to natural systems. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
acid deposition, bryophytes, acetylene reduction, microbial biomarker, nitrogen fertilization, anthropogenic global change
in
Ecosystems
volume
15
issue
6
pages
986 - 998
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000307763700010
  • scopus:84865385107
ISSN
1432-9840
DOI
10.1007/s10021-012-9562-y
project
Effect of environmental factors on fungal and bacterial growth in soil
Microbial carbon-use efficiency
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3df59798-6ad3-41fe-9909-9f2d1bc7a642 (old id 3147676)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:55:59
date last changed
2024-05-09 14:25:42
@article{3df59798-6ad3-41fe-9909-9f2d1bc7a642,
  abstract     = {{Nitrogen (N) fixation in the feather moss-cyanobacteria association represents a major N source in boreal forests which experience low levels of N deposition; however, little is known about the effects of anthropogenic N inputs on the rate of fixation of atmospheric N-2 in mosses and the succeeding effects on soil nutrient concentrations and microbial community composition. We collected soil samples and moss shoots of Pleurozium schreberi at six distances along busy and remote roads in northern Sweden to assess the influence of road-derived N inputs on N-2 fixation in moss, soil nutrient concentrations and microbial communities. Soil nutrients were similar between busy and remote roads; N-2 fixation was higher in mosses along the remote roads than along the busy roads and increased with increasing distance from busy roads up to rates of N-2 fixation similar to remote roads. Throughfall N was higher in sites adjacent to the busy roads but showed no distance effect. Soil microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition exhibited a weak pattern regarding road type. Concentrations of bacterial and total PLFAs decreased with increasing distance from busy roads, whereas fungal PLFAs showed no distance effect. Our results show that N-2 fixation in feather mosses is highly affected by N deposition, here derived from roads in northern Sweden. Moreover, as other measured factors showed only weak differences between the road types, atmospheric N-2 fixation in feather mosses represents a highly sensitive indicator for increased N loads to natural systems.}},
  author       = {{Ackermann, Kathrin and Zackrisson, Olle and Rousk, Johannes and Jones, David L. and DeLuca, Thomas H.}},
  issn         = {{1432-9840}},
  keywords     = {{acid deposition; bryophytes; acetylene reduction; microbial biomarker; nitrogen fertilization; anthropogenic global change}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{986--998}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Ecosystems}},
  title        = {{N-2 Fixation in Feather Mosses is a Sensitive Indicator of N Deposition in Boreal Forests}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10021-012-9562-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10021-012-9562-y}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}