Year-Round Variation in Bryophyte-Associated Nitrogen Fixation in the Arctic Year-Round Variation in Bryophyte-Associated Nitrogen Fixation in the Arctic

In northern biomes, growth is nitrogen (N) limited, but bryophytes are abundant. These bryophytes often host N 2 -fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) that play a crucial role in the N cycle of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, how the bryophyte-associated N 2 -fixation varies across specie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecosystems (New York) Vol. 29; no. 1; p. 7
Main Authors: Andersen, Emil Alexander Sherman, Lett, Signe, Michelsen, Anders, Dorrepaal, Ellen, Olofsson, Johan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2026
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Acetylene reduction assay
Activity patterns
Arctic zone
Autumn
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bryophytes
Climate change
Climatic conditions
Cold
Cyanobacteria
Ecology
Ecosystems
Environmental Management
Flowers & plants
Geoecology/Natural Processes
Habitats
Hydrology/Water Resources
Life Sciences
Liverwort
Microorganisms
Mosses
Multispecies
N2-fixation
Nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogenation
Original Article
Plant Sciences
Seasonal variations
Seasonality
Spring
Spring (season)
Summer
Taiga & tundra
Temperature
Tundra
Wetlands
Winter
Zoology
Arctic region
Liverwort
Multispecies
Winter
Autumn
Mosses
Seasonality
fixation
Spring
Acetylene reduction assay
Tundra
N
ISSN:1432-9840, 1435-0629, 1435-0629
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In northern biomes, growth is nitrogen (N) limited, but bryophytes are abundant. These bryophytes often host N 2 -fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) that play a crucial role in the N cycle of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, how the bryophyte-associated N 2 -fixation varies across species and seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring) remains poorly understood. We measured N 2 -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 N 2 -fixation during most of the year, except for the coldest period (February). The species growing in the wettest conditions ( Sphagnum spp.) had the highest N 2 -fixation rates in summer, while bryophytes in drier conditions peaked in N 2 -fixation rates in spring and autumn. The seasonal variation in N 2 -fixation activity was pronounced, but similar patterns were found among different species. This study reveals that bryophyte-associated N 2 -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 N 2 -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.
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ISSN:1432-9840
1435-0629
1435-0629
DOI:10.1007/s10021-025-01028-w