Reactive Nitrogen Hotspots Related to Microscale Heterogeneity in Biological Soil Crusts.

ABSTRACT: Biocrusts covering drylands account for major fractions of terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation and release large amounts of gaseous reactive nitrogen (N_r) as nitrous acid (HONO) and nitric oxide (NO). Recent investigations suggested that aerobic and anaerobic microbial nitrogen transformations occur simultaneously upon desiccation of biocrusts, but the spatio-temporal distribution of seemingly contradictory processes remained unclear. Here, we explore small-scale gradients in chemical concentrations related to structural characteristics and organism distribution. X-ray microtomography and fluorescence microscopy revealed mixed pore size structures, where photoautotrophs and cyanobacterial polysaccharides clustered irregularly in the uppermost millimeter. Microsensor measure

SUBMITTER: Kratz AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9387110 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature