Microbial and bryospheric photosynthesis of boreal peatlands have peatland-type-specific responses to long-term drying.

ABSTRACT: The impacts of drying on bryospheric photosynthesis are poorly understood. Utilising a 20-yr-long experiment, we quantified the effects of long-term water level drawdown (WLD) on links between bryospheric photosynthesis, microbial community composition, decomposition, and environmental variables. The community structure of photoautotrophic microbes was investigated using metabarcoding and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Microbial photosynthesis was measured as photosynthesis efficiency (φPSII) and maximum electron transport rate through photosystem II (ETR_max). Bryospheric photosynthesis was measured using an infrared gas flux analyser. Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, and Ochrophyta were dominant photoautotrophic phyla in all study areas, but communities had site-specific WL

SUBMITTER: Kuuri-Riutta O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12489279 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature