The diversity of diazotrophs in forest soil

Mountains represent unique areas, often with rapid changes of climate, vegetation and soil, are well suited to study how species distribution and diversity respond to sharp transitions of environments with elevations. N limitation because of low soil nitrogen (N) supply and strong N immobilization is universal in forest ecosystem. Not only symbiotic but also free–living diazotrophs have the potential to significantly influence forest N uptake. Characterizing the diversity variations of free–living diazotrophs and the underlying ecology processes in controling their diveristy pattern along elevational gradients is crucial for estimating their vulnerability to environmental change.

山地作为一类独特的生境，其气候、植被与土壤常呈现快速变化，十分适合用于探究物种分布与多样性如何响应海拔梯度下的环境剧变。因土壤氮（soil nitrogen, N）供应不足且固持作用强烈而引发的氮限制，在森林生态系统中普遍存在。无论是共生固氮微生物还是自由生活固氮微生物（diazotrophs），均具备显著调控森林氮吸收过程的潜力。阐明沿海拔梯度分布的自由生活固氮微生物的多样性变化特征，以及调控其多样性分布格局的潜在生态过程，对于评估其对环境变化的脆弱性至关重要。