Biological Soil Crusts

Büdel, Burkhard; Colesie, Claudia

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-45213-0_8

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These comprise high species richness but very few (2–3) trophic levels supported by cyanobacterial and chlorophyte photautotrophs, plus fungi, lichens and bryophytes in different proportions (Figure 1 ). A recent assessment of one Antarctic biological soil crust revealed it supported 66 cyanobacteria, 44 algae, 42 lichens, and 14 bryophyte species ( Büdel and Colesie, 2014 ). Extreme polar desert soils such as those of the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica and the Arctic Basin support relatively less soil crust cover, although prolific growth of cyanobacterial mat (dominated by Nostocales and Oscillatoriales) occurs in lakes and streams ( Bonilla et al, 2005 ; Taton et al, 2006 ).…”

Section: Contemporary Biogeography Of Polar Photoautotrophsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This microenvironment supports elevated temperatures compared to surrounding air due to solar gain from the substrate ( Kappen and Friedmann, 1983 ; McKay and Friedmann, 1985 ). A major advantage also accrues from moisture gain due to dew/rime deposition that occurs as a result of thermal differentials between substrate and air ( Büdel et al, 2008 ; Büdel and Colesie, 2014 ; Figure 6 ). This occurs both during vaporization of permafrost during warmer temperatures, and also due to dew/rime deposition at colder temperatures, and this may in part determine the depth of colonization.…”

Section: Drivers Of Biogeography For Polar Photoautotrophsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than the macroclimate features that drive plant diversity patterns elsewhere. High polar ecosystems are biologically unique, with a more central role for bryophytes, lichens and microbial photoautotrophs over that of vascular plants. Constraints on vascular plants arise mainly due to stature and ontogenetic barriers. Conversely non-vascular plant and microbial photoautotroph distribution is correlated with favorable microclimates and the capacity for poikilohydric dormancy. Contemporary distribution also depends on evolutionary history, with adaptive and dispersal traits as well as legacy influencing biogeography. We highlight the relevance of these findings to predicting future impacts on diversity of polar photoautotrophs and to the current status of plants in Arctic and Antarctic conservation policy frameworks.

show abstract

Section: Contemporary Biogeography Of Polar Photoautotrophsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Drivers Of Biogeography For Polar Photoautotrophsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This type of community can be found in almost any terrestrial environment where vegetation does not cover 100% of the soil surface. The BSCs include various combinations of microphytic communities including microbial phototrophs (cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae), heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, mosses, and lichens (Belnap and Lange, 2003;Büdel and Colesie, 2014). BSCs are involved in many important processes of the soil ecosystems such as nitrogen fixation, moisture trapping, stabilization of soil and organic carbon sequestration (Langhans et al, 2009;Huang et al, 2014;Stewart et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Then, algae, mosses and lichens gradually appear, resulting in a better developed BSC containing higher nutrients concentrations. Further, the BSC community gradually develops through a succession of different organisms assemblages till it reaches a climax stage with a stable community where the lichens, mosses or microbial phototrophs will no longer change unless another disruption occurs (Büdel and Colesie, 2014). Filamentous cyanobacteria such as Leptolyngbya, Phormidium, and Microcoleus have a pivotal role in BSC formation due to the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which promote the stabilization of the soil surface, moisture retention, and protection against erosion (Hu et al, 2012;Büdel et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Microphototrophic Communities Living in Different Soil Environments in the High Arctic

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Arctic region undergoes rapid climate change resulting in soil warming with consequent changes in microbial community structure. Therefore, it is important to gain more knowledge on the pioneer photosynthetic microorganisms and their relations to environmental factors. Here we provide a description of the community composition of microbial phototrophs in three different types of soils in the High Arctic (Svalbard): vegetated soil at a raised marine terrace, biological soil crust (BSC) at high elevation, and poorly-developed BSC in a glacier foreland. The studied sites differed from each other in microclimatic conditions (soil temperature and soil water content), soil chemistry and altitude. Combining morphological (cell biovolume) and molecular methods (NGS amplicon sequencing of cyanobacterial 16S rRNA and eukaryotic 18S rRNA sequences of isolates), we studied the diversity and biovolume of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae. The results showed that cyanobacteria prevailed in the high altitude BSC as well as in pioneering BSC samples in glacier foreland though with lower biomass. More specifically, filamentous cyanobacteria, mainly Leptolyngbya spp., dominated the BSCs from these two localities. In contrast, coccoid microalgae (green and yellow-green algae) had higher biovolume in low altitude vegetated soils. Thus, the results of this study contribute to a better understanding of microphototrophic communities in different types of Arctic soil environments.

show abstract

“…In polar and alpine ecosystems, terrestrial green algae are the most abundant primary producers or even the unique ones (Gray et al, 2007; Büdel and Colesie, 2014; Quaas et al, 2015). These ecosystems provide habitat for a heterogeneous assemblage of microscopic organisms belonging primarily to the Chlorophyta or the Streptophyta (Rindi, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Photoprotective Response of Lichenized and Free-Living Green Algae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) to Photochilling Stress

Míguez

Schiefelbein²,

Karsten

et al. 2017

Front. Plant Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lichens and free-living terrestrial algae are widespread across many habitats and develop successfully in ecosystems where a cold winter limits survival. With the goal of comparing photoprotective responses in free-living and lichenized algae, the physiological responses to chilling and photochilling conditions were studied in three lichens and their isolated algal photobionts together as well as in a fourth free-living algal species. We specifically addressed the following questions: (i) Are there general patterns of acclimation in green algae under chilling and photochilling stresses? (ii) Do free-living algae exhibit a similar pattern of responses as their lichenized counterparts? (iii) Are these responses influenced by the selection pressure of environmental conditions or by the phylogenetic position of each species? To answer these questions, photosynthetic fluorescence measurements as well as pigment and low molecular weight carbohydrate pool analyses were performed under controlled laboratory conditions. In general, photochemical efficiency in all free-living algae decreased with increasing duration of the stress, while the majority of lichens maintained an unchanged photochemical activity. Nevertheless, these patterns cannot be generalized because the alga Trebouxia arboricola and the lichen Ramalina pollinaria (associated with Trebouxia photobionts) both showed a similar decrease in photochemical efficiency. In contrast, in the couple Elliptochloris bilobata-Baeomyces rufus, only the algal partner exhibited a broad physiological performance under stress. This study also highlights the importance of the xanthophyll cycle in response to the studied lichens and algae to photochilling stress, while the accumulation of sugars was not related to cold acclimation, except in the alga E. bilobata. The differences in response patterns detected among species can be mainly explained by their geographic origin, although the phylogenetic position should also be considered, especially in some species.

show abstract

Biological Soil Crusts

Abstract: Biological soil crusts

Cited by 21 publications

References 54 publications

Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome

Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome

Comparison of Microphototrophic Communities Living in Different Soil Environments in the High Arctic

Unraveling the Photoprotective Response of Lichenized and Free-Living Green Algae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) to Photochilling Stress

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About