title: Methanotrophy induces nitrogen fixation during peatland development.
abstract: Nitrogen (N) accumulation rates in peatland ecosystems indicate significant biological atmospheric N2 fixation associated with Sphagnum mosses. Here, we show that the linkage between methanotrophic carbon cycling and N2 fixation may constitute an important mechanism in the rapid accumulation of N during the primary succession of peatlands. In our experimental stable isotope enrichment study, previously overlooked methane-induced N2 fixation explained more than one-third of the new N input in the younger peatland stages, where the highest N2 fixation rates and highest methane oxidation activities co-occurred in the water-submerged moss vegetation.
authors.affiliation: Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larmola
authors.forename: Sanna M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Leppänen
authors.forename: Eeva-Stiina
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tuittila
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aarva
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merilä
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fritze
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiirola
mesh_terms: D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D057486:Carbon Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D005387:Finland; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D008697:Methane
keywords: CH4; diazotrophy; mire; peat; phosphorus