TY - JOUR

T1 - The moss traits that rule cyanobacterial colonization

AU - Liu, Xin

AU - Rousk, Kathrin

N1 - CENPERMOA[2022] Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - 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 associations, 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 % of the 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 key traits identified here 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.

AB - 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 associations, 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 % of the 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 key traits identified here 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.

KW - Bryophytes

KW - Cyanobacteria

KW - functional trait

KW - moss colony

KW - nitrogen fixation

KW - water retention

U2 - 10.1093/aob/mcab127

DO - 10.1093/aob/mcab127

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34628495

AN - SCOPUS:85120376778

VL - 129

SP - 147

EP - 160

JO - Annals of Botany

JF - Annals of Botany

SN - 0305-7364

IS - 2

ER -