Year-round variation in bryophyte-associated nitrogen fixation in the ArcticShow others and affiliations
2026 (English)In: Ecosystems, ISSN 1432-9840, E-ISSN 1435-0629, Vol. 29, no 1, article id 7Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
In northern biomes, growth is nitrogen (N) limited, but bryophytes are abundant. These bryophytes often host N2-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) that play a crucial role in the N cycle of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, how the bryophyte-associated N2-fixation varies across species and seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring) remains poorly understood. We measured N2-fixation rates for 10 bryophyte species in situ throughout the entire year in the Arctic with additional incubations to verify the method. We measured positive N2-fixation during most of the year, except for the coldest period (February). The species growing in the wettest conditions (Sphagnum spp.) had the highest N2-fixation rates in summer, while bryophytes in drier conditions peaked in N2-fixation rates in spring and autumn. The seasonal variation in N2-fixation activity was pronounced, but similar patterns were found among different species. This study reveals that bryophyte-associated N2-fixation in northern ecosystems is larger than previously assumed, as it occurs over a more extended part of the year than previously inferred. Furthermore, the importance of bryophyte-associated diazotrophs cannot be quantified without considering both the diversity of bryophytes and their variation in N2-fixing seasonal activity patterns. Both future changes in climatic conditions and biodiversity of bryophytes can thus have large implications for the N cycle in arctic regions.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2026. Vol. 29, no 1, article id 7
Keywords [en]
Acetylene reduction assay, Autumn, Liverwort, Mosses, Multispecies, N2-fixation, Seasonality, Spring, Tundra, Winter
National Category
Ecology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-246760DOI: 10.1007/s10021-025-01028-wISI: 001618059100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105022070336OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-246760DiVA, id: diva2:2017370
Funder
Independent Research Fund Denmark, 0135–00140BKnut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, 2020-0126The Kempe Foundations, JCK-1822Swedish Research Council, 2018-040042025-11-282025-11-282025-11-28Bibliographically approved