The relationship of C and N stable isotopes to high-latitude moss-associated N₂ fixation

Moss-associated N₂ fixation by epiphytic microbes is a key biogeochemical process in nutrient-limited high-latitude ecosystems. Abiotic drivers, such as temperature and moisture, and the identity of host mosses are critical sources of variation in N₂ fixation rates. An understanding of the potential interaction between these factors is essential for predicting N inputs as moss communities change with the climate. To further understand the drivers and results of N₂ fixation rate variation, we obtained natural abundance values of C and N isotopes and an associated rate of N₂ fixation with ¹⁵N₂ gas incubations in 34 moss species collected in three regions across Alaska, USA. We hypothesized that δ¹⁵N values would increase toward 0‰ with higher N₂ fixation to reflect the increasing contribution of fixed N₂ in moss biomass. Second, we hypothesized that δ¹³C and N₂ fixation would be positively related, as enriched δ¹³C signatures reflect abiotic conditions favorable to N₂ fixation. We expected that the magnitude of these relationships would vary among types of host mosses, reflecting differences in anatomy and habitat. We found little support for our first hypothesis, with only a modest positive relationship between N₂ fixation rates and δ¹⁵N in a structural equation model. We found a significant positive relationship between δ¹³C and N₂ fixation only in Hypnales, where the probability of N₂ fixation activity reached 95% when δ¹³C values exceeded − 30.4‰. We conclude that moisture and temperature interact strongly with host moss identity in determining the extent to which abiotic conditions impact associated N₂ fixation rates.