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Peer-reviewedCC BYOecologia

Expanding the geographic and host range of moss-nostocacean symbioses in central Europe.

  • Martin Feulner1,2
  • Ulla Spieleder1,3
  • Frederic J Pascual Dose4,5
  • Jona Motzkus1
  • Daniel C Thomas6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany.
  2. 2Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Dr. Hans-Frisch-Str 1-3, 95448, Bayreuth, Germany.
  3. 3Program for Ecological Engineering (M.Sc.), Technical University of Munich, Arcisstraße 21, 80333, Munich, Germany.
  4. 4Department of Ecological Microbiology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Dr. Hans-Frisch-Str 1-3, 95448, Bayreuth, Germany.
  5. 5Program for Biodiversity: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (M.Sc.), University of Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1 (Aula), 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
  6. 6Department of Ecological Microbiology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Dr. Hans-Frisch-Str 1-3, 95448, Bayreuth, Germany. [email protected].
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Abstract

Since their re-discovery, Moss-cyanobacterial symbioses are of increasing interest, especially Nostoc-feather moss symbioses. Efforts to document Nostoc-feather moss symbioses have historically been centered in Scandinavia and the North American Boreal forest zone. Herein we report the results of several opportunistic surveys investigating the occurrence of Nostocaceae-moss symbioses in the region of Franconia (Germany), from Hylocomium splendens of the forest floor and four moss species (Orthotrichum lyellii, Zygodon dentatus, Homalia trichomanoides, Pseudoamblystegium subtile) located on three tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, and Sorbus schuwerkiorum). Using culture- and microscopy-based methods, we confirm the occurrence of such symbioses in our region. Four new moss host species for the symbiosis are documented, from the epiphytic family Orthotrichaceae (Orthotrichum sp. and Zygodon sp.), and also Neckeraceae (Homalia trichomanoides) and Amblystegiaceae (Pseudoambylstegium subtile). This further extends the range of known moss hosts for Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms outside the traditional feather moss (Hypnales) and Sphagnum clades. 16S rRNA gene sequence alignments placed the moss-associated Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms throughout our Nostocaceae phylogeny, with no obvious single symbiotic clade. We note the presence of multiple alternate nifH genes within the genomes of our cultured Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms, possibly enabling diazotrophy under variable ecological conditions. We also present evidence for possible endophytic colonization by cyanobacteria of stems of mosses.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{feulner2026expanding,
  title = {{Expanding the geographic and host range of moss-nostocacean symbioses in central Europe.}},
  author = {Martin Feulner and Ulla Spieleder and Frederic J Pascual Dose and Jona Motzkus and Daniel C Thomas},
  journal = {Oecologia},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1007/s00442-026-05990-7},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909664},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Expanding the geographic and host range of moss-nostocacean symbioses in central Europe.
AU  - Martin Feulner
AU  - Ulla Spieleder
AU  - Frederic J Pascual Dose
AU  - Jona Motzkus
AU  - Daniel C Thomas
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - Oecologia
DO  - 10.1007/s00442-026-05990-7
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909664
AB  - Since their re-discovery, Moss-cyanobacterial symbioses are of increasing interest, especially Nostoc-feather moss symbioses. Efforts to document Nostoc-feather moss symbioses have historically been centered in Scandinavia and the North American Boreal forest zone. Herein we report the results of several opportunistic surveys investigating the occurrence of Nostocaceae-moss symbioses in the region of Franconia (Germany), from Hylocomium splendens of the forest floor and four moss species (Orthotrichum lyellii, Zygodon dentatus, Homalia trichomanoides, Pseudoamblystegium subtile) located on three tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, and Sorbus schuwerkiorum). Using culture- and microscopy-based methods, we confirm the occurrence of such symbioses in our region. Four new moss host species for the symbiosis are documented, from the epiphytic family Orthotrichaceae (Orthotrichum sp. and Zygodon sp.), and also Neckeraceae (Homalia trichomanoides) and Amblystegiaceae (Pseudoambylstegium subtile). This further extends the range of known moss hosts for Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms outside the traditional feather moss (Hypnales) and Sphagnum clades. 16S rRNA gene sequence alignments placed the moss-associated Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms throughout our Nostocaceae phylogeny, with no obvious single symbiotic clade. We note the presence of multiple alternate nifH genes within the genomes of our cultured Nostoc and Nostoc-related organisms, possibly enabling diazotrophy under variable ecological conditions. We also present evidence for possible endophytic colonization by cyanobacteria of stems of mosses.
SN  - 0029-8549
SN  - 1432-1939
ER  -