Comparative study of nitrogenase activity in different types of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Northwestern China

被引:84
作者
Wu, N. [1 ,2 ]
Zhang, Y. M. [1 ]
Downing, A. [3 ]
机构
[1] Chinese Acad Sci, Xinjiang Inst Ecol & Geog, Key Lab Oasis Ecol & Desert Environm, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, Peoples R China
[2] Chinese Acad Sci, Grad Sch, Beijing 100039, Peoples R China
[3] Macquarie Univ, Dept Biol Sci, N Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
关键词
Acetylene reduction; Ecological function; Lichen-dominated crust; Nitrogen fixation; BLUE-GREEN-ALGAE; ACETYLENE-REDUCTION; CONVERSION FACTOR; COLORADO PLATEAU; LICHEN CRUSTS; WIND EROSION; FIXATION; MICROSTRUCTURE; SURFACE;
D O I
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.04.002
中图分类号
Q14 [生态学(生物生态学)];
学科分类号
071301 [植物生态学];
摘要
Biological soil crusts cover large areas of the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China where they make a significant contribution to soil stability and fertility. The aim of this study was to quantify the potential nitrogen-fixing activity (NA) of different types of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The results suggest that NA (nmol C2H4 m(-2) h(-1)) for each type of crusts was highly variable. Seasonal variation was also important, with all three types of crusts responding in a similar way to changes in environmental conditions. From March to May, NA was relatively low for all crust types. During this season, NA was 2.26 x 10(3) for cyanobacterial crust followed by lichen crust (6.54 x 10(2)) and moss crust (6.38 x 10(2)). From June to October, all crust types reached their highest level of NA, especially lichen crust and moss crust (p < 0.01). The NA of cyanobacterial crust (9.81 x 10(3)) was higher than that of lichen crust (9.06 x 10(3)) and moss crust (2.03 x 10(3)). From November to February, when temperatures were consistently low (<0 degrees C), NA was at its lowest level, especially in cyanobacterial crust (4.18 x 10(2)) and moss crust (5.43 x 10(2)) (P < 0.01). Our results indicate that species composition is critical when estimating N inputs in desert ecosystems. fit addition, all three types of crusts generally responded in a similar way to environmental conditions. The presence of N fixation activity in all crusts may contribute to the maintenance of fertility in sparsely vegetated areas and provide surrounding vascular plant with fixed nitrogen. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:828 / 833
页数:6
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