Host Identity as a Driver of Moss-Associated N2 Fixation Rates in Alaska

Stuart, Julia; Holland‐Moritz, Hannah; Lewis, Lily R.; Jean, Mélanie; Miller, Samantha N.; McDaniel, Stuart F.; Fierer, Noah; Ponciano, José Miguel; Mack, Michelle C.

doi:10.1007/s10021-020-00534-3

Cited by 35 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Bacterial community composition in the moss phyllosphere seems to be mainly driven by host species (Opelt et al, 2007;Bragina et al, 2012;Holland-Moritz et al, 2021). In particular, moss-associated cyanobacteria as well as their N-fixation rates seem to be host-specific (Holland-Moritz et al, 2018;Stuart et al, 2020), and do not seem to vary with environmental conditions, such as nutrient availability, soil moisture, or light availability (Ininbergs et al, 2011). However, other studies have suggested that bacterial community composition can vary among forest types for a given moss species (Wang et al, 2018;Holland-Moritz et al, 2021), as does bacterial diversity in other habitats including soil, litter and the tree phyllosphere (Redford et al, 2010;Kembel et al, 2014;Urbanová et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominance of coniferous and broadleaved trees drives bacterial associations with boreal feather mosses

Rodríguez-Rodríguez

Bergeron

Kembel

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The composition of ecologically important moss-associated bacterial communities seems to be mainly driven by host species, but may also be shaped by environmental conditions related with tree-canopy dominance. The moss phyllosphere has been studied in coniferous forests while broadleaf forests remain understudied. To determine if host species or environmental conditions defined by tree-canopy dominance drives the bacterial diversity in the moss phyllosphere, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to quantify changes in bacterial communities as a function of host species (Pleurozium schreberi and Ptilium crista-castrensis) and forest type (coniferous black spruce versus deciduous broadleaf trembling aspen) in eastern Canada. Forest type, not host species, was the main factor affecting moss phyllosphere bacterial community composition, though the interaction of both variables was significant. Bacterial α-diversity was highest in spruce forests, while there was greater turnover (β-diversity) and higher γ-diversity in aspen forests. Unexpectedly, Cyanobacteria were much more relatively abundant in aspen than in spruce forests, with the bacterial family Nostocaceae (Cyanobacteria) differing the most between both forest types. Our results suggest that the increasing change in dominance from coniferous to broadleaf trees due to natural and anthropic disturbances is likely to affect the composition of moss-associated bacteria in boreal forests.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominance of coniferous and broadleaved trees drives bacterial associations with boreal feather mosses

Rodríguez-Rodríguez

Bergeron

Kembel

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“… Rousk and Michelsen, 2017 ). Wide-ranging taxa of mosses have been found to host cyanobacteria, but N 2 fixation activity of the association varies greatly among moss species ( Rousk et al ., 2015 ; Stuart et al ., 2021 ). For instance, N 2 fixation activity in Hylocomium splendens can be more than double the activity found in Pleurozium schreberi , although they are co-dominant in boreal forests ( Stuart et al ., 2021 ), while the activity in H. splendens is only one-sixth the activity found in Sphagnum in arctic tundra ( Rousk et al ., 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wide-ranging taxa of mosses have been found to host cyanobacteria, but N 2 fixation activity of the association varies greatly among moss species ( Rousk et al ., 2015 ; Stuart et al ., 2021 ). For instance, N 2 fixation activity in Hylocomium splendens can be more than double the activity found in Pleurozium schreberi , although they are co-dominant in boreal forests ( Stuart et al ., 2021 ), while the activity in H. splendens is only one-sixth the activity found in Sphagnum in arctic tundra ( Rousk et al ., 2015 ). To date, although many factors, such as nutrient availability ( Gundale et al ., 2011 ; Rousk et al ., 2017 ) and moisture content ( Rousk et al ., 2015 , 2018 ) affect N 2 fixation in mosses, we do not know why these large variations in N 2 fixation activity between mosses growing in the same habitat occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The moss traits that rule cyanobacterial colonization

Liu

Rousk

2021

Annals of Botany

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Background and Aims Cyanobacteria associated with mosses represent a main nitrogen (N) source in pristine, high latitude and altitude ecosystems due to their ability to fix N2. However, despite progress made regarding moss-cyanobacteria association, the factors driving the large interspecific variation in N2 fixation activity between moss species remain elusive. The aim of the study was to identify the traits of mosses that determine cyanobacterial colonization and thus, N2 fixation activity. Methods Four moss species varying in N2 fixation activity were used to assess cyanobacterial abundance and activity to correlate it with moss-traits (morphological, chemical, water-balance traits) for each species. Key Results Moss-hydration rate was one of the pivotal traits, explaining 56% and 38% variation in N2 fixation and cyanobacterial colonization, respectively, and was linked to morphological traits of the moss species. Higher abundance of cyanobacteria was found on shoots with smaller leaves, and with a high-frequency of leaves. High phenol concentration inhibited N2 fixation but not colonization. These traits driving interspecific variation in cyanobacterial colonization, however, are also affected by the environment, and lead to intraspecific variation. Approximately 24% of paraphyllia, filamentous appendages on Hylocomium splendens stems, were colonized by cyanobacteria. Conclusions Our findings show that interspecific variations in moss traits drive differences in cyanobacterial colonization and thus, N2 fixation activity among moss species. The here-identified key traits that control moss-associated N2 fixation and cyanobacterial colonization could lead to improved predictions of N2 fixation in different moss species as a function of their morphology.

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“…As water content greatly influences bryophyte flammability (Blauw et al 2015), flammability could be linked to WHC and thus predicted by the BFGs. Bryophytes constitute an important substrate in many tundra ecosystems for N 2 fixing bacteria with substantial inter species variation (Gavazov et al 2010;Stuart et al 2020). The mechanisms controlling N 2 fixation in bryophytes are poorly understood but traits like WHC and perhaps specific leaf area are potential important predictors of species differences (Rousk et al 2018;Liu and Rousk unpubl.).…”

Section: Tundra Bryophyte Functional Groups and Other Functional Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can bryophyte groups increase functional resolution in tundra ecosystems?

et al. 2022

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The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups, can mask potentially high inter- and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared to previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

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Host Identity as a Driver of Moss-Associated N2 Fixation Rates in Alaska

Cited by 35 publications

References 77 publications

Dominance of coniferous and broadleaved trees drives bacterial associations with boreal feather mosses

Dominance of coniferous and broadleaved trees drives bacterial associations with boreal feather mosses

The moss traits that rule cyanobacterial colonization

Can bryophyte groups increase functional resolution in tundra ecosystems?

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