Light drives nitrogen fixation in tropical montane cloud forests in Costa Rica

Light significantly enhances nitrogen fixation by bryophytes in tropical montane cloud forests, with rates 57 times higher on epiphytic bryophytes compared to litter and 270 times greater than in soil. This process is more pronounced in secondary forests, suggesting that increased light exposure due to disturbance may accelerate ecosystem recovery. The study measured nitrogen fixation across primary and secondary cloud forests in Costa Rica's Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves, highlighting the critical role of light in this nitrogen cycle process.

Alvarenga, D. O., Clasen, L. A., Thomsen, A. M. R., Andersen, R. F., & Rousk, K. (2024). Light drives nitrogen fixation in tropical montane cloud forests in Costa Rica. Science of the Total Environment, 940, 173631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173631