Biological soil crust influence on germination and rooting of two key species in a Stipa tenacissima steppe

Mendoza-Aguilar, Dinorah O.; Cortina, Jordi; Pando-Moreno, Marisela

doi:10.1007/s11104-013-1958-8

Cited by 25 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The area of biocrusts can reach 70 % in some ecosystems (Evans and Johansen 1999). Development of biocrusts can stabilize sand surfaces (Hu et al 2002), change soil hydrological processes (Belnap 2006;Liu et al 2006), mediate plant growth and diversity (Funk et al 2014;Mendoza-Aguilar et al 2014;Pendleton et al 2003;Thiet et al 2014), and also fix N 2 (Abed et al 2010;Belnap 2002;Evans and Johansen 1999;Zhao et al 2014). Thus, biocrusts are dominant contributors to the stability of the structure and function of dry ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence in physiological responses between cyanobacterial and lichen crusts to a gradient of simulated nitrogen deposition

2015

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Background and aims Nitrogen (N) deposition in arid lands is known to be increasing. However, N deposition gradients have unclear effects on physiological characteristics of biocrusts. This study tested if physiological characteristics are stimulated by low levels of N deposition and reduced by high levels of N deposition. Methods We simulated N deposition at various rates to plots of cyanobacterial and lichen biocrusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert and measured indicators of growth and stress. Results In cyanobacterial crusts, most evidence suggests that biomass and growth are unaffected by lower levels of N but suppressed at the highest level. Biomass and growth of lichen crusts were less sensitive to N addition but, in the case of actual photochemical efficiency, were also suppressed at the highest N addition rate. Most osmotic adjustment substances of cyanobacterial and lichen crusts did not show significant responses after N addition. In the two crusts, minor increase in antioxidative enzyme activity was found in some N addition rates but no similar trends between the crust types were observed. Conclusions Physiological performance of cyanobacterial crusts was more sensitive to high levels of N addition than that of lichen crusts. Increasing N deposition might greatly affect cyanobacterial crusts before lichen crusts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence in physiological responses between cyanobacterial and lichen crusts to a gradient of simulated nitrogen deposition

2015

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“…They also play an important role in micro-ecosystems and constitute the majority of crust biomass34. BSCs play an important role in stabilizing the soil surface, changing the micro-environment and promoting vegetation succession5678. However, BSCs are under threat in some areas because of intensive human activities, including overgrazing, oil and gas exploration, and land use change.…”

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confidence: 99%

Impacts of the removal of shrubs on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syntrichia caninervis Mitt: in a temperate desert

Yin

Zhang

Lou

2017

Sci Rep

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Moss crusts play important roles in biological soil crusts biomass and soil surface stabilization. However, because of increasingly intensive human activities, especially grazing, the growth and survival of shrubs are seriously threatened. This study aimed to test whether the presence of shrubs affects the physiological state of the bryophyte Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. in this desert ecosystem. We simulated animal-grazed shrubs at three levels in the Gurbantunggut Desert and compared these simulations to exposed areas, measuring the indicators of growth and stress tolerance exhibited by bryophytes. The results showed that the removal of shrubs significantly decreased chlorophyll fluorescence activity and soluble protein content in S. caninervis, especially under the total shrub removal treatment. The ratio between the total removal of shrubs and other treatments in antioxidative enzymes and in osmotic adjustment substances of S. caninervis exhibited two types of responses. With the exception of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the variables examined fitted as downward parabolic then upward parabolic temporal dynamics. The removal of shrubs is harmful to the survival of S.caninervis. In resource-constrained conditions, SOD is an important antioxidant enzyme that of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and osmotic adjustment substances, for S. caninervis survival.

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“…Therefore, BSCs may alter ecosystem processes and community composition (Mendoza‐Aguilar et al. ). Although the percent germination increased along with succession sequence, the type of BSCs (lichen or moss) had no significant effect on the germination of the native plants (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological soil crusts increase stability and invasion resistance of desert revegetation communities in northern China

Song

Rong

2020

Ecosphere

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Biological soil crusts (BSCs) in arid region provide critical ecosystem services. However, most previous studies on BSC–plant topic have had a narrow spatiotemporal and taxonomic focus, so context dependency concerning exotic plant responses to BSCs remains poorly understood. In this study, using a series of manipulative experiments under greenhouse conditions, we investigated the influence of BSCs in the Tengger Desert in northern China on seed germination and seedling growth of an exotic grass species, Stipa glareosa P. Smirn., with or without two native plants species, Eragrostis poaeoides Beauv. and Artemisia capillaris Thunb., both of whose ontogeny differs from that of the exotic species. BSC treatments included intact crusts, disturbed crusts, and bare soil. Compared to bare soil, the presence of BSCs reduced the germination of E. poaeoides and A. capillaris by 78% and 74%, respectively. For the exotic species, BSCs reduced the germination percentage by as much as 90%. With gradual increases in soil nutrients such as organic carbon, available phosphorus, and available nitrogen, the shoot biomass of the three plants increased along the sequence from bare soil to lichens and mosses. Shoot biomass of the two native plant species was reduced by the exotic species S. glareosa. The percent germination and shoot biomass of S. glareosa on the disturbed crusts were greater than those on the intact crusts and bare soils. Overall, the presence of BSCs on stabilized sand dunes can reduce the germination of these three plant species, but compared with native plant species, BSCs have a stronger inhibitory effect on the seed germination of the exotic plant species. However, the disturbance may weaken the inhibition of the seed germination of the exotic grass S. glareosa and may provide more nutrients for the exotic grass S. glareosa to establish a revegetation region. We concluded that compared with the absence of BSCs, BSCs in this desert ecosystem can provide more nutrients and a suitable environment for native vascular plants and exert an inhibitory effect on the exotic plants.

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Biological soil crust influence on germination and rooting of two key species in a Stipa tenacissima steppe

Cited by 25 publications

References 39 publications

Divergence in physiological responses between cyanobacterial and lichen crusts to a gradient of simulated nitrogen deposition

Divergence in physiological responses between cyanobacterial and lichen crusts to a gradient of simulated nitrogen deposition

Impacts of the removal of shrubs on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syntrichia caninervis Mitt: in a temperate desert

Biological soil crusts increase stability and invasion resistance of desert revegetation communities in northern China

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