Effects of ultraviolet radiation on aquatic bryophytes

The depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer as a result of anthropogenic activities increases the ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiance at ground level. This may lead to harmful biological consequences affecting photosynthetic organisms. Mountain streams are especially exposed to a UV-B increase, and bryophytes play a key ecological role in them. In this paper, the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on photosynthetic organisms in general and on bryophytes in particular are described. Hereafter, some results obtained by our group on the effects of UV-B on bryophytes from mountain streams are presented. Laboratory and field experiments show that these effects depend on the species, the environmental factors (such as temperature), and the origin of the samples (sun or shade conditions, low or high altitude). Among the variables measured, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and the level of UV-absorbing compounds seem to be the most responsive to enhanced UV-B, but no variable responded in the same manner in every species. The potential use of aquatic bryophytes as bio-indicators of changes in ambient UV-B radiation would require an adequate selection of both variables and species. Promising variables are Fv/Fm, the concentration of UV-absorbing compounds (especially if they are analyzed individually) and DNA damage, whereas the liverwort Jungermannia exsertifolia subsp. cordifolia has been revealed to be a good bio-indicator species. Globally, the responses of aquatic bryophytes to UV-B radiation and their protecting systems are still poorly characterized, and thus further study is required under both controlled and field conditions.La degradación antropogénica de la capa de ozono estratosférico provoca un aumento de la radiación ultravioleta-B (UV-B) en la superficie de La Tierra. Esto puede causar consecuencias biológicas nocivas en los organismos fotosintéticos. Los arroyos de montaña están especialmente expuestos al aumento de UV-B, y los briófitos desempeñan un papel ecológico crucial en estos ecosistemas. En el presente artículo, se describen los efectos de un aumento de radiación UV-B sobre los organismos fotosintéticos en general y sobre los briófitos en particular. A continuación, se presentan algunos resultados obtenidos por nuestro grupo de investigación sobre los efectos de la radiación UV-B en briófitos de arroyos de montaña. Los experimentos realizados tanto en campo como en laboratorio muestran que dichos efectos dependen de la especie considerada, de los factores ambientales (como la temperatura) y de la procedencia de las muestras (aclimatadas a condiciones de sol o sombra, provenientes de baja o elevada altitud). Entre las variables analizadas, el rendimiento cuántico máximo del fotosistema II (Fv/Fm) y el nivel de compuestos absorbentes de radiación UV parecen ser las que mejor responden a un aumento de UV-B, pero ninguna variable responde de la misma manera en todas las especies. El uso potencial de los briófitos acuáticos como bioindicadores de cambios en los niveles naturales de radiación UV-B requiere una selección adecuada tanto de las variables analizadas como de las especies empleadas. Fv/Fm y la concentración de compuestos absorbentes de radiación UV (en especial si éstos son analizados individualmente), junto con los daños en el ADN, parecen ser las variables más prometedoras en este campo, mientras que la hepática Jungermannia exsertifolia subsp. cordifolia podría resultar una buena especie bioindicadora. Desde un punto de vista global, las respuestas de los briófitos acuáticos a la radiación UV-B, y los mecanismos protectores que utilizan para hacerle frente, están todavía poco caracterizados, y en consecuencia se necesita una mayor investigación en condiciones controladas y en campo

Functional ecology of soil microbial communities along a glacier forefield in Tierra del Fuego (Chile)

A previously established chronosequence from Pia Glacier forefield in Tierra del Fuego (Chile) containing soils of different ages (from bare soils to forest ones) is analyzed. We used this chronosequence as framework to postulate that microbial successional development would be accompanied by changes in functionality. To test this, the GeoChip functional microarray was used to identify diversity of genes involved in microbial carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as other genes related to microbial stress response and biotic interactions. Changes in putative functionality generally reflected succession-related taxonomic composition of soil microbiota. Major shifts in carbon fixation and catabolism were observed, as well as major changes in nitrogen metabolism. At initial microbial dominated succession stages, microorganisms could be mainly involved in pathways that help to increase nutrient availability, while more complex microbial transformations such as denitrification and methanogenesis, and later degradation of complex organic substrates, could be more prevalent at vegetated successional states. Shifts in virus populations broadly reflected changes in microbial diversity. Conversely, stress response pathways appeared relatively well conserved for communities along the entire chronosequence. We conclude that nutrient utilization is likely the major driver of microbial succession in these soils. [Int Microbiol 19(3):161-173 (2016)]Keywords: Functional genes · antibiotic resistance · GeoChip microarray · primary succession · chronosequenc

Long-Term Recovery of Microbial Communities in the Boreal Bryosphere Following Fire Disturbance.

Our study used a ∼360-year fire chronosequence in northern Sweden to investigate post-fire microbial community dynamics in the boreal bryosphere (the living and dead parts of the feather moss layer on the forest floor, along with the associated biota). We anticipated systematic changes in microbial community structure and growth strategy with increasing time since fire (TSF) and used amplicon pyrosequencing to establish microbial community structure. We also recorded edaphic factors (relating to pH, C and N accumulation) and the physical characteristics of the feather moss layer. The molecular analyses revealed an unexpectedly diverse microbial community. The structure of the community could be largely explained by just two factors, TSF and pH, although the importance of TSF diminished as the forest recovered from disturbance. The microbial communities on the youngest site (TSF = 14 years) were clearly different from older locations (>100 years), suggesting relatively rapid post-fire recovery. A shift towards Proteobacterial taxa on older sites, coupled with a decline in the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, suggested an increase in resource availability with TSF. Saprotrophs dominated the fungal community. Mycorrhizal fungi appeared to decline in abundance with TSF, possibly due to changing N status. Our study provided evidence for the decadal-scale legacy of burning, with implications for boreal forests that are expected to experience more frequent burns over the course of the next century.Natural Environment Research Council (Grant ID: NE/ I027150/1), Royal Geographical Society (Grant ID: SRG 13:13), Trinity College Cambridg

Biogeochemical indicators of elevated nitrogen deposition in semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems

Nitrogen (N) deposition has doubled the natural N inputs received by ecosystems through biological N fixation and is currently a global problem that is affecting the Mediterranean regions. We evaluated the existing relationships between increased atmospheric N deposition and biogeochemical indicators related to soil chemical factors and cryptogam species across semiarid central, southern, and eastern Spain. The cryptogam species studied were the biocrust-forming species Pleurochaete squarrosa (moss) and Cladonia foliacea (lichen). Sampling sites were chosen in Quercus coccifera (kermes oak) shrublands and Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forests to cover a range of inorganic N deposition representative of the levels found in the Iberian Peninsula (between 4.4 and 8.1 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)). We extended the ambient N deposition gradient by including experimental plots to which N had been added for 3 years at rates of 10, 20, and 50 kg N ha(-1) year(-1). Overall, N deposition (extant plus simulated) increased soil inorganic N availability and caused soil acidification. Nitrogen deposition increased phosphomonoesterase (PME) enzyme activity and PME/nitrate reductase (NR) ratio in both species, whereas the NR activity was reduced only in the moss. Responses of PME and NR activities were attributed to an induced N to phosphorus imbalance and to N saturation, respectively. When only considering the ambient N deposition, soil organic C and N contents were positively related to N deposition, a response driven by pine forests. The PME/NR ratios of the moss were better predictors of N deposition rates than PME or NR activities alone in shrublands, whereas no correlation between N deposition and the lichen physiology was observed. We conclude that integrative physiological measurements, such as PME/NR ratios, measured on sensitive species such as P. squarrosa, can provide useful data for national-scale biomonitoring programs, whereas soil acidification and soil C and N storage could be useful as additional corroborating ecosystem indicators of chronic N pollution

Boreal forest floor greenhouse gas emissions across a Pleurozium schreberi-dominated, wildfire-disturbed chronosequence

The boreal forest is a globally critical biome for carbon cycling. Its forests are shaped by wildfire events that affect ecosystem properties and climate feedbacks including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Improved understanding of boreal forest floor processes is needed to predict the impacts of anticipated increases in fire frequency, severity, and extent. In this study, we examined relationships between time since last wildfire (TSF), forest floor soil properties, and GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) along a Pleurozium schreberi-dominated chronosequence in mid- to late succession located in northern Sweden. Over three growing seasons in 2012–2014, GHG flux measurements were made in situ and samples were collected for laboratory analyses. We predicted that P. schreberi-covered forest floor GHG fluxes would be related to distinct trends in the soil properties and microbial community along the wildfire chronosequence. Although we found no overall effect of TSF on GHG emissions, there was evidence that soil C/N, one of the few properties to show a trend with time, was inversely linked to ecosystem respiration. We also found that local microclimatic conditions and site-dependent properties were better predictors of GHG fluxes than TSF. This shows that site-dependent co-variables (that is, forest floor climate and plant-soil properties) need to be considered as well as TSF to predict GHG emissions as wildfires become more frequent, extensive and severe

Biomonitorización del depósito de nitrógeno atmosférico en México: Detección y prevención de daños en ecosistemas naturales

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Bryophyte-cyanobacteria associations during primary succession in recently deglaciated areas of Tierra del Fuego (Chile)

Bryophyte establishment represents a positive feedback process that enhances soil development in newly exposed terrain. Further, biological nitrogen (N) fixation by cyanobacteria in association with mosses can be an important supply of N to terrestrial ecosystems, however the role of these associations during post-glacial primary succession is not yet fully understood. Here, we analyzed chronosequences in front of two receding glaciers with contrasting climatic conditions (wetter vs drier) at Cordillera Darwin (Tierra del Fuego) and found that most mosses had the capacity to support an epiphytic flora of cyanobacteria and exhibited high rates of N2 fixation. Pioneer moss-cyanobacteria associations showed the highest N2 fixation rates (4.60 and 4.96 μg N g-1 bryo. d-1) very early after glacier retreat (4 and 7 years) which may help accelerate soil development under wetter conditions. In drier climate, N2 fixation on bryophyte-cyanobacteria associations was also high (0.94 and 1.42 μg N g -1 bryo. d-1) but peaked at intermediate-aged sites (26 and 66 years). N2 fixation capacity on bryophytes was primarily driven by epiphytic cyanobacteria abundance rather than community composition. Most liverworts showed low colonization and N2 fixation rates, and mosses did not exhibit consistent differences across life forms and habitat (saxicolous vs terricolous). We also found a clear relationship between cyanobacteria genera and the stages of ecological succession, but no relationship was found with host species identity. Glacier forelands in Tierra del Fuego show fast rates of soil transformation which imply large quantities of N inputs. Our results highlight the potential contribution of bryophyte-cyanobacteria associations to N accumulation during post-glacial primary succession and further describe the factors that drive N 2-fixation rates in post-glacial areas with very low N deposition. © 2014 Arróniz-Crespo et al.This work was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n of Spain (Projects CTM2009-12838-C04-01 and CTM2009-12838-C04-03). SPO is supported by the grant CTM2012-38222-C02-02 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.Peer Reviewe