Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents
Abstract Seagrass meadows form highly productive and diverse ecosystems in coastal areas worldwide, where they are increasingly exposed to ocean acidification (OA). Efficient nitrogen (N) cycling and uptake are essential to maintain plant productivity, but the effects of OA on N transformations in t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06011-0 |
| _version_ | 1797247044846354432 |
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| author | Johanna Berlinghof Luis M. Montilla Friederike Peiffer Grazia M. Quero Ugo Marzocchi Travis B. Meador Francesca Margiotta Maria Abagnale Christian Wild Ulisse Cardini |
| author_facet | Johanna Berlinghof Luis M. Montilla Friederike Peiffer Grazia M. Quero Ugo Marzocchi Travis B. Meador Francesca Margiotta Maria Abagnale Christian Wild Ulisse Cardini |
| author_sort | Johanna Berlinghof |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Seagrass meadows form highly productive and diverse ecosystems in coastal areas worldwide, where they are increasingly exposed to ocean acidification (OA). Efficient nitrogen (N) cycling and uptake are essential to maintain plant productivity, but the effects of OA on N transformations in these systems are poorly understood. Here we show that complete N cycling occurs on leaves of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica at a volcanic CO2 vent near Ischia Island (Italy), with OA affecting both N gain and loss while the epiphytic microbial community structure remains largely unaffected. Daily leaf-associated N2 fixation contributes to 35% of the plant’s N demand under ambient pH, while it contributes to 45% under OA. Nitrification potential is only detected under OA, and N-loss via N2 production increases, although the balance remains decisively in favor of enhanced N gain. Our work highlights the role of the N-cycling microbiome in seagrass adaptation to OA, with key N transformations accelerating towards increased N gain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:52:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-143221f25bc84bc28017caeeaa60cca5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:52:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-143221f25bc84bc28017caeeaa60cca52024-03-24T12:29:34ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-03-017111110.1038/s42003-024-06011-0Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 ventsJohanna Berlinghof0Luis M. Montilla1Friederike Peiffer2Grazia M. Quero3Ugo Marzocchi4Travis B. Meador5Francesca Margiotta6Maria Abagnale7Christian Wild8Ulisse Cardini9Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyInstitute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR)Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyBiology Centre of the Czech Academy of SciencesDepartment of Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyDepartment of Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyDepartment of Marine Ecology, University of BremenDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and BiotechnologyAbstract Seagrass meadows form highly productive and diverse ecosystems in coastal areas worldwide, where they are increasingly exposed to ocean acidification (OA). Efficient nitrogen (N) cycling and uptake are essential to maintain plant productivity, but the effects of OA on N transformations in these systems are poorly understood. Here we show that complete N cycling occurs on leaves of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica at a volcanic CO2 vent near Ischia Island (Italy), with OA affecting both N gain and loss while the epiphytic microbial community structure remains largely unaffected. Daily leaf-associated N2 fixation contributes to 35% of the plant’s N demand under ambient pH, while it contributes to 45% under OA. Nitrification potential is only detected under OA, and N-loss via N2 production increases, although the balance remains decisively in favor of enhanced N gain. Our work highlights the role of the N-cycling microbiome in seagrass adaptation to OA, with key N transformations accelerating towards increased N gain.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06011-0 |
| spellingShingle | Johanna Berlinghof Luis M. Montilla Friederike Peiffer Grazia M. Quero Ugo Marzocchi Travis B. Meador Francesca Margiotta Maria Abagnale Christian Wild Ulisse Cardini Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents Communications Biology |
| title | Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents |
| title_full | Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents |
| title_fullStr | Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents |
| title_short | Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO2 vents |
| title_sort | accelerated nitrogen cycling on mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic co2 vents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06011-0 |
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