Nitrogen cycling players and processes in green roof ecosystems

Green (vegetated) roofs typically consist of an engineered substrate paired with drought-tolerant plants installed on a rooftop. These emerging ecosystems are installed for the services they provide, which in many cases depend on plant performance. However little is known about the microbial communities in these unique ecosystems and how these communities may impact plant performance, which in many cases likely depend on nitrogen availability. We sought to explore the microbial community in relation to nitrogen cycling on 6 green roofs near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.