Facultative nitrogen fixation by canopy legumes in a lowland tropical forest.
Oecologia
; 165(2): 511-20, 2011 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21110206
ABSTRACT
Symbiotic dinitrogen (N(2)) fixation is often invoked to explain the N richness of tropical forests as ostensibly N(2)-fixing trees can be a major component of the community. Such arguments assume N(2) fixers are fixing N when present. However, in laboratory experiments, legumes consistently reduce N(2) fixation in response to increased soil N availability. These contrasting views of N(2) fixation as either obligate or facultative have drastically different implications for the N cycle of tropical forests. We tested these models by directly measuring N(2)-fixing root nodules and nitrogenase activity of individual canopy-dominant legume trees (Inga sp.) across several lowland forest types. Fixation was substantial in disturbed forests and some gaps but near zero in the high N soils of mature forest. Our findings suggest that canopy legumes closely regulate N(2) fixation, leading to large variations in N inputs across the landscape, and low symbiotic fixation in mature forests despite abundant legumes.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Árvores
/
Ecossistema
/
Fabaceae
/
Nitrogênio
/
Fixação de Nitrogênio
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Oecologia
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos