Articles | Volume 14, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1111-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1111-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Mar 2017
Research article |
| 09 Mar 2017
Symbiosis revisited: phosphorus and acid buffering stimulate N2 fixation but not Sphagnum growth
Eva van den Elzen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology, Institute
for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525
AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Martine A. R. Kox
Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research,
Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Sarah F. Harpenslager
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK
Geert Hensgens
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
Christian Fritz
Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology, Institute
for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525
AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Centre for Energy and Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh
Sustainable Agriculture, Rhein-Waal University for Applied Science, Wiesenstraße 5, 47575 Kleve, Germany
Mike S. M. Jetten
Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research,
Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Katharina F. Ettwig
Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research,
Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Leon P. M. Lamers
Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology, Institute
for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525
AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
B-Ware Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Cited
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The bacterial communities of Alaskan mosses and their contributions to N2-fixation H. Holland-Moritz et al. 10.1186/s40168-021-01001-4
- δ15N systematics in two minerotrophic peatlands in the eastern U.S.: Insights into nitrogen cycling under moderate pollution M. Novak et al. 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00571
- Microbial community dynamics in two Central European peatlands affected by different nitrogen depositions J. Barta et al. 10.1093/femsec/fiaf056
- The Fate of 15N Tracer in Waterlogged Peat Cores from Two Central European Bogs with Different N Pollution History M. Novak et al. 10.1007/s11270-018-3731-3
- Phosphorus supply affects long-term carbon accumulation in mid-latitude ombrotrophic peatlands D. Schillereff et al. 10.1038/s43247-021-00316-2
- Contrasting potential for biological N2 fixation at three polluted central European Sphagnum peat bogs: combining the 15N2-tracer and natural-abundance isotope approaches M. Stepanova et al. 10.5194/soil-9-623-2023
- Hydrology-driven environmental variability determines abiotic characteristics and Oribatida diversity patterns in a Sphagnum peatland system M. Minor et al. 10.1007/s10493-018-0332-1
- Variation in symbiotic N2 fixation rates among Sphagnum mosses E. van den Elzen et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0228383
- Novel metabolic interactions and environmental conditions mediate the boreal peatmoss-cyanobacteria mutualism A. Carrell et al. 10.1038/s41396-021-01136-0
- Acidifying surface water and water level management promote Sphagnum health for peatland restoration and paludiculture A. Koks et al. 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107579
- Microbial nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation are strongly enhanced by light in Sphagnum mosses M. Kox et al. 10.1186/s13568-020-00994-9
- Chronic Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen Deposition Suppresses Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Peatlands E. Saiz et al. 10.1021/acs.est.0c04882
- Effects of airborne ammonium and nitrate pollution strongly differ in peat bogs, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains unaffected E. van den Elzen et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.102
- Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Biological N2 Fixation in a Cool Temperate Bog T. Živković et al. 10.1029/2021JG006481
- The influence of oxygen and methane on nitrogen fixation in subarctic Sphagnum mosses M. Kox et al. 10.1186/s13568-018-0607-2
- Self‐facilitation and negative species interactions could drive microscale vegetation mosaic in a floating fen T. van Bergen et al. 10.1111/jvs.12851
- Sphagnum response to nitrogen deposition and nitrogen critical load: A meta-analysis Y. Zhou et al. 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01791
- Depression of soil nitrogen fixation by drying soil in a degraded alpine peatland X. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141084
- Sphagnum bleaching: Bicarbonate ‘toxicity’ and tolerance for seven Sphagnum species A. Koks et al. 10.1111/plb.13423
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The bacterial communities of Alaskan mosses and their contributions to N2-fixation H. Holland-Moritz et al. 10.1186/s40168-021-01001-4
- δ15N systematics in two minerotrophic peatlands in the eastern U.S.: Insights into nitrogen cycling under moderate pollution M. Novak et al. 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00571
- Microbial community dynamics in two Central European peatlands affected by different nitrogen depositions J. Barta et al. 10.1093/femsec/fiaf056
- The Fate of 15N Tracer in Waterlogged Peat Cores from Two Central European Bogs with Different N Pollution History M. Novak et al. 10.1007/s11270-018-3731-3
- Phosphorus supply affects long-term carbon accumulation in mid-latitude ombrotrophic peatlands D. Schillereff et al. 10.1038/s43247-021-00316-2
- Contrasting potential for biological N2 fixation at three polluted central European Sphagnum peat bogs: combining the 15N2-tracer and natural-abundance isotope approaches M. Stepanova et al. 10.5194/soil-9-623-2023
- Hydrology-driven environmental variability determines abiotic characteristics and Oribatida diversity patterns in a Sphagnum peatland system M. Minor et al. 10.1007/s10493-018-0332-1
- Variation in symbiotic N2 fixation rates among Sphagnum mosses E. van den Elzen et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0228383
- Novel metabolic interactions and environmental conditions mediate the boreal peatmoss-cyanobacteria mutualism A. Carrell et al. 10.1038/s41396-021-01136-0
- Acidifying surface water and water level management promote Sphagnum health for peatland restoration and paludiculture A. Koks et al. 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107579
- Microbial nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation are strongly enhanced by light in Sphagnum mosses M. Kox et al. 10.1186/s13568-020-00994-9
- Chronic Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen Deposition Suppresses Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Peatlands E. Saiz et al. 10.1021/acs.est.0c04882
- Effects of airborne ammonium and nitrate pollution strongly differ in peat bogs, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains unaffected E. van den Elzen et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.102
- Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Biological N2 Fixation in a Cool Temperate Bog T. Živković et al. 10.1029/2021JG006481
- The influence of oxygen and methane on nitrogen fixation in subarctic Sphagnum mosses M. Kox et al. 10.1186/s13568-018-0607-2
- Self‐facilitation and negative species interactions could drive microscale vegetation mosaic in a floating fen T. van Bergen et al. 10.1111/jvs.12851
- Sphagnum response to nitrogen deposition and nitrogen critical load: A meta-analysis Y. Zhou et al. 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01791
- Depression of soil nitrogen fixation by drying soil in a degraded alpine peatland X. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141084
- Sphagnum bleaching: Bicarbonate ‘toxicity’ and tolerance for seven Sphagnum species A. Koks et al. 10.1111/plb.13423
Latest update: 04 Nov 2025
Short summary
Peatlands are important because they sequester large amounts of carbon, for which nitrogen is needed. In peatlands dominated by peat mosses, atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by associated microorganisms. We here show for the first time experimentally that phosphorus availability and acid buffering, both showing large variations among peatlands, can explain the strong differences reported for nitrogen fixation. This improves our understanding of peatland functioning in relation to global change.
Peatlands are important because they sequester large amounts of carbon, for which nitrogen is...
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