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<p>Bryophytes are home to an underestimated diversity of macroscopic and microscopic organisms, which are an integral part of the bryosphere. This multitude of species is involved in numerous ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Their role is particularly important in biomes where these processes are fragile, like the Arctic tundra, given recent environmental changes and anthropic pressures. Using environmental DNA methods, we aimed at surveying the diversity and abundance of the bryosphere communities within <i>Racomitrium lanuginosum</i>, a common moss species in Iceland, and how they are affected by sheep grazing. We sampled moss from grazed and ungrazed plots at two locations in Iceland and identified all eukaryotes and bacteria within different segments of the moss. Sheep presence influenced the community compositions of protist, bacterial, and fungal communities. Diversity of identified organisms increased down the moss layer, getting closer to the litter and soil, for all organism groups. Additionally, we found that community composition within the moss differed depending on sample location and depth within the moss layer. By screening the major organism groups living inside the moss layer, this study provides novel insights into the spatial distribution of moss-associated organisms within microhabitats.</p>

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What is hiding within the moss? Assessing the impact of sheep grazing on bryosphere diversity in Icelandic tundra

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

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  • Bastien Papinot Lecomte,
  • Snaebjörn Pálsson,
  • Oddur Þór Vilhelmsson,
  • Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttír

摘要

Bryophytes are home to an underestimated diversity of macroscopic and microscopic organisms, which are an integral part of the bryosphere. This multitude of species is involved in numerous ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Their role is particularly important in biomes where these processes are fragile, like the Arctic tundra, given recent environmental changes and anthropic pressures. Using environmental DNA methods, we aimed at surveying the diversity and abundance of the bryosphere communities within Racomitrium lanuginosum, a common moss species in Iceland, and how they are affected by sheep grazing. We sampled moss from grazed and ungrazed plots at two locations in Iceland and identified all eukaryotes and bacteria within different segments of the moss. Sheep presence influenced the community compositions of protist, bacterial, and fungal communities. Diversity of identified organisms increased down the moss layer, getting closer to the litter and soil, for all organism groups. Additionally, we found that community composition within the moss differed depending on sample location and depth within the moss layer. By screening the major organism groups living inside the moss layer, this study provides novel insights into the spatial distribution of moss-associated organisms within microhabitats.