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Facultative nitrogen fixation by legumes in the central Congo basin is downregulated during late successional stages
Author(s) -
Bauters Marijn,
Mapenzi Neville,
Kearsley Elizabeth,
Vanlauwe Bernard,
Boeckx Pascal
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/btp.12312
Subject(s) - ecological succession , facultative , biology , nitrogen fixation , ecology , temperate rainforest , fabaceae , ecosystem , bacteria , genetics
The contribution of the legume community to the nitrogen cycle during natural forest regeneration remains poorly understood. We systematically assessed the changes in abundance and nodulation status of all legumes, across taxa and plant types, in a forest succession gradient in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our results clearly show that symbiotic N 2 fixation is downregulated during late successional stages.