Diazotrophs are a dominant source
of newly fixed nitrogen in many ecosystems.
Most research has concentrated on the symbiotic relationship between
plants and nodule-inhabiting bacteria (e.g., Rhizobia). However, diazotrophs
contribute significant amounts of nitrogen to a myriad of lesser-known ecosystems. They can be endoliths,
hypoliths or occur in aquatic habitats in any climatic
zone. In deserts and polar regions, they cover many
surfaces, including soils, rocks, mosses, lichens, and live and dead plant stems,
root, and leaves. In boreal forests, they are on and in mosses that carpet the
forest floor. In coniferous forests, they occur on and in lichens colonizing
tree branches. In temperate regions, they associate with the non-vascular
plants commonly found on the soil or plant litter surface. Diazotrophs are
found in peatlands and mires. In the subtropics and
tropics, they are on terrestrial and intertidal tree and
grass stems, roots, and leaves. They occur in hypersaline
lakes and thermal