Exposure to nitrogen does not eliminate N-2 fixation in the feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.

The feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. is colonized by cyanobacteria, which fix substantial amounts of atmospheric nitrogen (N) in pristine and N-poor ecosystems. Cyanobacterial N2 fixation is inhibited by N deposition. However, the threshold of N input that leads to the inhibition of N2 fixation has not been adequately investigated. Further, the ability of N2 fixation to recover in mosses from high N deposition areas has not been studied to date.