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Year-round variation in bryophyte-associated nitrogen fixation in the Arctic
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3745-5044
Forest and Bioresources, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0523-2471
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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, 2018-04004Available from: 2025-11-28 Created: 2025-11-28 Last updated: 2025-11-28Bibliographically approved

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Andersen, EmilDorrepaal, EllenOlofsson, Johan

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