Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island
Abstract Peatland cloud forests, characterized by high altitude and humidity, are among the least-studied tropical ecosystems despite their significance for endemism and the bioavailable nitrogen (N) that can be emitted as N2O. While research has mainly focused on soil, the above-ground microbial N...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12367-y |
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| author | Fahad Ali Kazmi Ülo Mander Reti Ranniku Maarja Öpik Kersti Püssa Kaido Soosaar Kuno Kasak Mohit Masta Claudine Ah-Peng Mikk Espenberg |
| author_facet | Fahad Ali Kazmi Ülo Mander Reti Ranniku Maarja Öpik Kersti Püssa Kaido Soosaar Kuno Kasak Mohit Masta Claudine Ah-Peng Mikk Espenberg |
| author_sort | Fahad Ali Kazmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Peatland cloud forests, characterized by high altitude and humidity, are among the least-studied tropical ecosystems despite their significance for endemism and the bioavailable nitrogen (N) that can be emitted as N2O. While research has mainly focused on soil, the above-ground microbial N cycle remains largely unexplored. We quantified microbial N cycling genes across ecosystem compartments (soil, canopy soil, tree stems, and leaves) in relation to N2O and N2 fluxes and soil physicochemical properties in two peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island. Complete denitrification minimized N2O emissions and increased N2 fluxes in wetland soils. In cloud forest soils, archaeal nitrification primarily produced nitrate (NO3 –), while low pH potentially slowed denitrification, resulting in minimal N2O emissions. Soil N-fixers were more abundant in Erica reunionensis-dominated forests than in mixed forests. Tree stems varied between weak N2O sinks and sources, with fluxes unrelated to gene abundances in stems. High prokaryotic and fungal nirK gene abundance in forest canopy soil suggests potential for above-ground denitrification in wet conditions. nosZ-I genes found in forest canopy soil and leaves (E. reunionensis, Alsophila glaucifolia, and Typha domingensis) indicate that plants, including forest canopy, may play a significant role in the reduction of N2O. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fdff440ee0794facb0581db231f3a0e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-fdff440ee0794facb0581db231f3a0e92025-08-20T04:02:45ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-12367-yNitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion IslandFahad Ali Kazmi0Ülo Mander1Reti Ranniku2Maarja Öpik3Kersti Püssa4Kaido Soosaar5Kuno Kasak6Mohit Masta7Claudine Ah-Peng8Mikk Espenberg9Department of Geography, University of TartuDepartment of Geography, University of TartuDepartment of Geography, University of TartuDepartment of Botany, University of TartuDepartment of Botany, University of TartuDepartment of Geography, University of TartuDepartment of Geography, University of TartuDepartment of Geography, University of TartuUMR PVBMT, Université de La RéunionDepartment of Geography, University of TartuAbstract Peatland cloud forests, characterized by high altitude and humidity, are among the least-studied tropical ecosystems despite their significance for endemism and the bioavailable nitrogen (N) that can be emitted as N2O. While research has mainly focused on soil, the above-ground microbial N cycle remains largely unexplored. We quantified microbial N cycling genes across ecosystem compartments (soil, canopy soil, tree stems, and leaves) in relation to N2O and N2 fluxes and soil physicochemical properties in two peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island. Complete denitrification minimized N2O emissions and increased N2 fluxes in wetland soils. In cloud forest soils, archaeal nitrification primarily produced nitrate (NO3 –), while low pH potentially slowed denitrification, resulting in minimal N2O emissions. Soil N-fixers were more abundant in Erica reunionensis-dominated forests than in mixed forests. Tree stems varied between weak N2O sinks and sources, with fluxes unrelated to gene abundances in stems. High prokaryotic and fungal nirK gene abundance in forest canopy soil suggests potential for above-ground denitrification in wet conditions. nosZ-I genes found in forest canopy soil and leaves (E. reunionensis, Alsophila glaucifolia, and Typha domingensis) indicate that plants, including forest canopy, may play a significant role in the reduction of N2O.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12367-ySoil MicrobiomeCanopy MicrobiomeSoil N2OSoil N2Stem N2O |
| spellingShingle | Fahad Ali Kazmi Ülo Mander Reti Ranniku Maarja Öpik Kersti Püssa Kaido Soosaar Kuno Kasak Mohit Masta Claudine Ah-Peng Mikk Espenberg Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island Scientific Reports Soil Microbiome Canopy Microbiome Soil N2O Soil N2 Stem N2O |
| title | Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island |
| title_full | Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island |
| title_fullStr | Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island |
| title_short | Nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on Réunion Island |
| title_sort | nitrogen cycling genes abundance in soil and aboveground compartments of tropical peatland cloud forests and a wetland on reunion island |
| topic | Soil Microbiome Canopy Microbiome Soil N2O Soil N2 Stem N2O |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12367-y |
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