Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands

Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-3-319-80752-2
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, Band 226, 549 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 9384 g

Reihe: Ecological Studies

This volume summarizes our current
understanding of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), which are omnipresent in
dryland regions. Since they cover the soil surface, they influence, or even
control, all surface exchange processes. Being one of the oldest terrestrial
communities, biocrusts comprise a high diversity of cyanobacteria, algae,
lichens and bryophytes together with uncounted bacteria, and fungi. The authors
show that biocrusts are an integral part of dryland ecosystems, stabilizing
soils, influencing plant germination and growth, and playing a key role in
carbon, nitrogen and water cycling. Initial attempts have been made to use
biocrusts as models in ecological theory. On the other hand, biocrusts are endangered
by local disruptions and global change, highlighting the need for enhanced
recovery methods. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the fascinating
field of biocrust research, making it indispensable not only for scientists in
this area, but also for land managers, policy makers, and anyone interested in
the environment.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Weber, Bettina

Belnap, Jayne

Büdel, Burkhard

Fachgebiete

• Geowissenschaften Geologie Bodenkunde, Sedimentologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Naturschutzbiologie, Biodiversität
• Geowissenschaften Geographie | Raumplanung Biogeographie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Biological soil crusts as a critical zone of global
importance.- How biological soil crusts became studied as a community.- Fossil
crusts.- Cyanobacteria and algae within biological soil crusts.- Fungi and bacteria
within biological soil crusts.- Bryophytes within biological soil crusts.-
Lichens within biological soil crusts.- Microfauna within biological soil
crusts.- Composition and structure of biological soil crusts.- Controls on
distribution patterns of biological soil crusts at the micro-, macro-, and
global scale.- Hypolithic communities.- Remote sensing of biological soil
crusts at different scales.- Microstructure and weathering processes within
biological soil crusts.- Patterns and controls on nitrogen cycling of biological
soil crusts.- Carbon budgets of biological soil crusts at micro- meso-, and
global scales.- Biological soil crusts as soil stabilizers.- Effects of
biological soil crusts on arid land hydrology.- Response of biological soil
crust organisms to light, temperature, and water conditions.- Interactions of
biological soil crusts with vascular plants.- Biological soil crusts as model to
study plant interactions and functional roles.- Effects of disturbance on
biological soil crusts.- Effects of climate change on biological soil crusts.- Natural
recovery of biological soil crusts after disturbance.- Enhanced recovery of
biological soil crusts after disturbance.- Synthesis on biological soil crust
research.