Cryptogams build up a living microcosm: Geoecological effects of biocrusts on volcanic tephra (Haleakalā, Maui, Hawai’i)

Pérez, Francisco L.

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2021.105320

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…This may create striking castle‐like pinnacles that are up to 15 cm high and with delicate tips <4 mm across (Figs 1, 6F). Because of the increased surface area created by the pinnacles and the lower PET, the biomass and nutrient input of biocrust organisms can be quite high and soil stability greatly increased by their presence (Pérez, 2021). Due to the strong preservation of surface roughness, they are often strong sinks for mobile resources such as water, seeds, and sediment.…”

Section: Variations In Form and Function Within Biocrustsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community

et al. 2022

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Studies of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) have proliferated over the last few decades. The biocrust literature has broadened, with more studies assessing and describing the function of a variety of biocrust communities in a broad range of biomes and habitats and across a large spectrum of disciplines, and also by the incorporation of biocrusts into global perspectives and biogeochemical models. As the number of biocrust researchers increases, along with the scope of soil communities defined as 'biocrust', it is worth asking whether we all share a clear, universal, and fully articulated definition of what constitutes a biocrust. In this review, we synthesize the literature with the views of new and experienced biocrust researchers, to provide a refined and fully elaborated definition of biocrusts. In doing so, we illustrate the ecological relevance and ecosystem services provided by them. We demonstrate that biocrusts are defined by four distinct elements: physical structure, functional characteristics, habitat, and taxonomic composition. We describe outgroups, which have some, but not all, of the characteristics necessary to be fully consistent with our definition and thus would not be considered biocrusts. We also summarize the wide variety of different types of communities that fall under our definition of biocrusts, in the process of highlighting their global distribution. Finally, we suggest the universal use of the Belnap, Büdel & Lange definition, with minor modifications: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) result from an intimate association between soil particles and differing proportions of photoautotrophic (e.g. cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes) and heterotrophic (e.g. bacteria, fungi, archaea) organisms, which live within, or immediately on top of, the uppermost millimetres of soil. Soil particles are aggregated through the presence and activity of these often extremotolerant biota that desiccate regularly, and the resultant living crust covers the surface of the ground as a coherent layer. With this detailed definition of biocrusts, illustrating their ecological functions and widespread distribution, we hope to stimulate interest in biocrust research and inform various stakeholders (e.g. land managers, land users) on their overall importance to ecosystem and Earth system functioning.

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Section: Variations In Form and Function Within Biocrustsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community

et al. 2022

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“…Important plants include shrubs like kūpaoa (Dubautia menziesii), māmane (Sophora chrysophylla), pukiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae), and perennial grasses such as pili uka (Trisetum glomeratum), Hawai'i hairgrass (Deschampsia nubigena), and Hawai'i bentgrass (Agrostis sandwicensis); the taxonomy conforms to Wagner et al (1990) [20]. A rich cryptogamic flora, containing ~128 epilithic mosses, or minute biological epedaphic crusts, thrives on the crater [18].…”

Section: Study Area: Haleakalā Cratermentioning

confidence: 89%

“…This is a tall, columnar, monoca 'giant' rosette, endemic to this mountain, with a single woody stem, capped by a de crown of shiny silvery leaves that dies after flowering once during the dry season (Fig A permanent climatic subsidence inversion layer develops at ~1200-2400 m; highaltitude crater areas remain isolated from moist marine air masses, causing intense summer drought and cloudless, clear skies [17]. Seasonal mean temperatures in the Haleakalā National Park (HNP) fluctuate narrowly, ~9.6-13.4 • C, but daily variation may be ~24 • C [18]. Rainfall rises dramatically across the crater, from a low of ~1037 mm/year near its western margin to ~3404 mm/year along the eastern rim [19].…”

Section: Study Area: Haleakalā Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A highly polymorphic species, it can grow as a shrub or as a ≤15 m tall tree. Māmane shrubs were preferred for browsing by feral goats, which greedily consumed its long twisted pods, twigs, and leaves, as high as they could climb, often severely damaging plants; wildlife biologists consider māmane an 'ice cream' plant for feral goats; their high nitrogen content probably contributes to their high palatability to animals in a volcanic area where soils are low in nitrogen [1,18,50,92]. Before encircling HNP with a fence, the few older surviving māmane shrubs in the crater showed a distinctive 'browse line' at ~1.5 m height above the ground; now, the plants have swiftly recovered from goat suppression, both vegetatively and producing abundant seedlings [50].…”

Section: Geographies 2024 4 For Peer Review 20mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early Uses by Ancient Hawaiians, and Environmental, Geographical, and Ecological History, of Haleakalā Crater, East Maui

Pérez

2024

Geographies

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This research assesses the environmental uses of Haleakalā Crater, and adjoining east Maui areas, by native Hawaiians during recent centuries, and evaluates the modern utilization of this volcanic depression. The study methods examine, and focus on, numerous historical and modern accounts and reports. Three historical periods were identified as follows: (1). A phase, from the ~1400s until contact with foreigners in 1778, characterized by the development of settlements, population expansion, the intensification of traditional agriculture, and the political consolidation of Maui. The construction of the Kiha-a-Pi‘i-lani trail across the crater enhanced travel between distant island areas. (2). Following the collapse of Maui’s human populations during the late 1700s, and until the 20th century, came a period distinguished by scientific exploration of the crater, and intentional or accidental introductions of animals, including goats, horses, cattle, and wild dogs. (3). After Haleakalā became a National Park in 1916, efforts to eradicate introduced animals and to encourage the reproduction of silverswords and other plants were initiated. Unfortunately, in retrospect, construction of a modern paved road, improvement of hiking trails, and building of facilities allowed swift access to the Park and substantially increased tourist numbers, up to ~2 million yearly visitors. Faced with such crowds, the long-term planning of Park resources appears to be a formidable task.

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“…Biocrusts are increasingly recognized as “ecosystem engineers,” given their ability to modify environmental conditions which influence vegetation. Biocrusts are associated with increased soil stability (Pérez 2021; Copeland et al 2023), including areas that inherently have low stability such as sand dunes (Hagemann et al 2017). Areas with high cover of biocrusts frequently have low cover of vascular plants, making the contributions of biocrusts to ecosystem functions notable in these systems (Belnap et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological soil crusts are more prevalent in warmer and drier environments within the Great Basin ecoregion: implications for managing annual grass invasion

Condon,

Bradford,

Coates

2024

Restoration Ecology

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Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) can thrive under environmental conditions that are stressful for vascular plants such as high temperatures and/or extremely low moisture availability. In these settings, and in the absence of disturbance, cover of biocrusts commonly exceeds cover of vascular plants. Arid landscapes are also typically slow to recover from disturbance and prone to altered vegetation and invasion by exotic species. In the sagebrush ecosystems, cover of annual, exotic, invasive grasses are lower where cover of biocrusts and vascular plants are greater, suggesting that biocrusts play a role in helping arid sites avoid conversion to dominance by invasive grasses. The conceptual framework for assessing ecological resistance and resilience (R&R) is used across the region to estimate the risk of invasion by annual grasses and the likelihood of recovery of native plants following disturbance. However, this framework does not currently account for biocrusts. We used data collected by the Bureau of Land Management Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring program to relate biocrusts, specifically the presence of lichens and mosses, to the R&R framework. Lichens frequently occur on warm, dry sites, classified as lower R&R. Mosses frequently occur on sites classified as moderate or moderately low R&R. Without management practices that favor biocrusts in low‐moderate R&R, these areas may be more vulnerable to transitioning from being dominated by shrubs to annual grasses. Under climate change scenarios, the area occupied by lower R&R sites is likely to increase, suggesting that the role of biocrusts in maintaining site resistance to invasion may also increase.

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Cryptogams build up a living microcosm: Geoecological effects of biocrusts on volcanic tephra (Haleakalā, Maui, Hawai’i)

Cited by 4 publications

References 58 publications

What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community

What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community

Early Uses by Ancient Hawaiians, and Environmental, Geographical, and Ecological History, of Haleakalā Crater, East Maui

Biological soil crusts are more prevalent in warmer and drier environments within the Great Basin ecoregion: implications for managing annual grass invasion

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