Nitrogen fixation and diurnal changes of photosynthetic activity in Arctic soil crusts at different development stage

• Published in: European Journal of Soil Biology
• Main Authors: Pushkareva, E., Kvíderová, J. (Jana), Šimek, M. (Miloslav), Elster, J. (Josef)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Soil crust; Arctic; Photosynthetic activity; Svalbard
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2017.02.002; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0271605

Nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis provided by microbial phototrophs (cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae) are important processes occurring in Arctic soil crusts. Here, we describe and compare these processes in biological soil crusts from Central Svalbard at different stages of development. The gradient from poorly-developed to well-developed soil crusts was accompanied by the changes in biovolume of microbial phototrophs, nitrogenase and photosynthetic activity. The lowest biovolume of microbial phototrophs was detected in poorly-developed soil crusts as a consequence of the initial stage of soil colonization.