Experimental Warming Alters the Community Composition, Diversity, and N Fixation Activity of Peat Moss (Sphagnum Fallax) Microbiomes

Overview

Journal Glob Chang Biol

Specialties Biology
Environmental Health

Date 2019 Jun 1

PMID 31148286

Citations 19

Authors

Alyssa A Carrell

Max Kolton

Jennifer B Glass

Dale A Pelletier

Melissa J Warren

Joel E Kostka

Colleen M Iversen

Paul J Hanson

David J Weston

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sphagnum-dominated peatlands comprise a globally important pool of soil carbon (C) and are vulnerable to climate change. While peat mosses of the genus Sphagnum are known to harbor diverse microbial communities that mediate C and nitrogen (N) cycling in peatlands, the effects of climate change on Sphagnum microbiome composition and functioning are largely unknown. We investigated the impacts of experimental whole-ecosystem warming on the Sphagnum moss microbiome, focusing on N fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs). To characterize the microbiome response to warming, we performed next-generation sequencing of small subunit (SSU) rRNA and nitrogenase (nifH) gene amplicons and quantified rates of N fixation activity in Sphagnum fallax individuals sampled from experimental enclosures over 2 years in a northern Minnesota, USA bog. The taxonomic diversity of overall microbial communities and diazotroph communities, as well as N fixation rates, decreased with warming (p < 0.05). Following warming, diazotrophs shifted from a mixed community of Nostocales (Cyanobacteria) and Rhizobiales (Alphaproteobacteria) to predominance of Nostocales. Microbiome community composition differed between years, with some diazotroph populations persisting while others declined in relative abundance in warmed plots in the second year. Our results demonstrate that warming substantially alters the community composition, diversity, and N fixation activity of peat moss microbiomes, which may ultimately impact host fitness, ecosystem productivity, and C storage potential in peatlands.

Citing Articles

Host Species-Microbiome Interactions Contribute to Sphagnum Moss Growth Acclimation to Warming.

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Structure and Functions of Endophytic Bacterial Communities Associated with Sphagnum Mosses and Their Drivers in Two Different Nutrient Types of Peatlands.

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