Open AccessSuccession of N cycling processes in biological soil crusts on a C entral E uropean inland dune
Author(s) -
Brankatschk Robert,
Fischer Thomas,
Veste Maik,
Zeyer Josef
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01459.x
Subject(s) - ecological succession , biology , nitrogen cycle , nitrification , ecosystem , dominance (genetics) , denitrification , cycling , ecology , mineralization (soil science) , primary succession , carbon cycle , botany , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , soil water , chemistry , history , biochemistry , organic chemistry , archaeology , gene
Biological soil crusts ( BSC s) are microbial assemblages that occur worldwide and facilitate ecosystem development by nitrogen ( N ) and carbon accumulation. N turnover within BSC ecosystems has been intensively studied in the past; however, shifts in the N cycle during BSC development have not been previously investigated. Our aim was to characterise N cycle development first by the abundance of the corresponding functional genes (in brackets) and second by potential enzyme activities; we focussed on the four processes: N fixation ( nifH ), mineralisation as proteolysis and chitinolysis ( chiA ), nitrification ( amoA ) and denitrification ( nosZ ). We sampled from four phases of BSC development and from a reference located in the rooting zone of C orynephorus canescens , on an inland dune in G ermany. BSC development was associated with increasing amounts of chlorophyll, organic carbon and N . Potential activities increased and were highest in developed BSC s. Similarly, the abundance of functional genes increased. We propose and discuss three stages of N process succession. First, the heterotrophic stage (mobile sand without BSC s) is dominated by mineralisation activity. Second, during the transition stage (initial BSC s), N accumulates, and potential nitrification and denitrification activity increases. Third, the developed stage (established BSC s and reference) is characterised by the dominance of nitrification.