Ecology of soil algae: a review

Starks, Thomas L.; Shubert, L. Elliot; Trainor, Francis R.

doi:10.2216/i0031-8884-20-1-65.1

Cited by 105 publications

(59 citation statements)

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“…These results suggest that photoautotrophic activity, along with the production of carbohydrates (EPS), contributes significantly to the variation in aggregate size and stability seen on Longyearbreen glacier. These results agree with findings from terrestrial environments, where algal inoculation has been shown to improve soil stability by reducing the damaging effect of erosion by water (Falchini et al, 1996) and retaining silt and clay size fractions (Starks et al, 1981). There is also agreement with findings from marine environments, where substantial research into the stabilisation of sediments by photoautotrophs has been conducted (e.g.…”

Section: Environmental Influences Over Aggregate Size and Stabilitysupporting

confidence: 89%

A spatial investigation of the environmental controls over cryoconite aggregation on Longyearbreen glacier, Svalbard

et al. 2014

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Abstract.A cryoconite granule is a near-spherical aggregation of biota and abiotic particles found upon glacier surfaces. Recently, microstructural studies have revealed that photosynthetic microorganisms and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are omnipresent within cryoconite granules and have suggested their importance as biological "forming factors". To assess these forming factors, and their biological control over aggregate size and stability, across a typical Arctic valley glacier surface, a suite of rapid, spectrophotometric, microplate methods were utilised. Subsequent spatial mapping of these data revealed distinct patterns. Labile carbohydrates were found to increase up-glacier, suggestive of EPS production for cryoprotection and nutrient assimilation. Conversely, pigment concentrations were found to increase towards the glacier terminus and valley sides, suggestive of allochthonous input, a general reduction in physical disturbance and of the build-up of photosynthetic pigments and less labile cyanobacterial sheath material. Aggregate size was found to increase towards the glacier edges, linked to the input of particulate matter from the valley sides, and to broadly increase down-glacier, in the same way as pigment concentrations. Statistical analyses of transect data revealed that the photoautotrophic count and carbohydratechlorophyll ratio of the cryoconite sampled could explain 83 % of the measured variation in aggregate size and stability. Considering solely aggregate size, the number and length of photoautotrophic filaments could explain 92 % of the variation in this parameter. These findings demonstrate the twodimensional distribution of key biological controls upon cryoconite aggregation for the first time, and highlight the importance of filamentous cyanobacteria and EPS production to the development of stable cryoconite granules.

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Section: Environmental Influences Over Aggregate Size and Stabilitysupporting

confidence: 89%

A spatial investigation of the environmental controls over cryoconite aggregation on Longyearbreen glacier, Svalbard

et al. 2014

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“…2), which is a similar or slightly lower species richness compared to the other reports on BSCs from temperate regions at open sites (Langhans et al, 2009;Schulz et al, 2016), but similar or higher compared to the previous reports on algae from forest bulk soil (Khaybullina et al, 2010;Novakovskaya and Patova, 2008;Starks et al, 1981). Nevertheless, the given number most probably underestimates the real algal richness, since our results are based on the enrichment cultivation followed by morphological identification.…”

Section: Species Composition and Abundancesupporting

confidence: 83%

Algal richness in BSCs in forests under different management intensity with some implications for P cycling

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are highly important communities in drylands and disturbed areas worldwide, where the higher vegetation is sparse, with a diverse microalgal community as the key component. They perform important ecological functions, such as stabilization of soil and nutrient enrichment. In temperate regions BSCs are also common, but generally less studied. Changes in land use and land use intensity strongly influence biodiversity per se and ecosystem processes, as can be seen particularly in densely populated regions like Europe. However, systematic studies on the effect of land use gradients, i.e., forest management intensity, on BSCs have been missing up to now. To close this knowledge gap and enhance the understanding of management effects on BSCs from pine and beech forests under different management regimes, key primary producers of these communities (eukaryotic microalgae and cyanobacteria) were studied. Phototrophic microorganisms were identified morphologically and categorized as either coccal taxa, which typically occur in high diversity, or filamentous taxa, which have the potential to initiate BSC formation. In total, 51 algal species were recorded, most of them from the phylum Chlorophyta, followed by Streptophyta and Stramenopiles, and only 1 cyanobacterial taxon. The most abundant crust-initiating filamentous algae were three species of Klebsormidium (Streptophyta), a ubiquitous genus regularly occurring in BSCs because of its broad ecophysiological tolerance. Increasing management intensity in the forests resulted in a higher number of algal species; especially the number of coccal taxa increased. Furthermore, the proportion of inorganic phosphorus showed tendencies towards a negative correlation with the number of algal species. Thus, management of forests has an impact on the diversity of phototrophic organisms in BSCs, which might in turn affect their biogeochemical P cycling.

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“…In total 52 algal species were identified in all BSCs sampled (Figure 1), which is a similar or lower richness compared to other 20 reports on BSCs from temperate regions at open sites (Langhans et al, 2009;Schulz et al, 2016), but similar or higher compared to previous reports on algae from forest bulk soil (Khaybullina et al, 2010;Novakovskaya and Patova, 2008;Starks et al, 1981). Nevertheless, the given number is most probably an underestimation of the real algal biodiversity because our results are based on enrichment cultivation followed by morphological assignment.…”

Section: Species Composition and Abundancesupporting

confidence: 80%

Algal diversity of temperate biological soil crusts depends on land use intensity and affects phosphorus biogeochemical cycling

Glaser

Baumannn

Leinweber

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Biological soil crusts (BSCs) form the most productive microbial biomass in many drylands and disturbed areas with a diverse 10 microalgal community as key component. In temperate regions, BSCs are also common, but generally less studied, and they conduct important ecological functions, like stabilization of soil and enrichment of nutrients. Changes in land use and its intensity strongly influence biodiversity per se and it's role for ecosystem processes, particularly in regions which are densely populated like Europe. But systematic studies on land use (i.e. management intensity) gradients in temperate forests on BSCs are missing up to now. To close this gap of knowledge and enhance the understanding of management effects on BSCs, 15Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae as key primary producers of these communities were identified from pine and beech forests under different management regimes. Algae were identified morphologically based on enrichment cultivation and categorized in either coccal taxa, which occur typically in high diversity, or filamentous taxa, which have the potential to initiate BSC formation. In total, 52 algal species were recorded, most from the phylum Chlorophyta, followed by Streptophyta and Heterokontophyta; Cyanobacteria were much less abundant in temperate forest BSCs. The most abundant crust-initiating 20 filamentous algae were three species of Klebsormidium (Streptophyta) a ubiquitous genus often associated with BSCs worldwide and a high tolerance to low pH. Increasing management intensity resulted in a higher richness of algae, especially the proportion of coccal algae rose. Furthermore, the proportion of inorganic phosphorus was positively correlated with the algal richness, indicating that higher diversity of algae results in a more closed P cycle. Thus, management of forests has an impact on the diversity of phototrophic organisms in BSCs, which in turn affects P cycling in the BSC. 25 key words: biological soil crusts, forest, management intensity, phosphorus, algae richness, Klebsormidium Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi

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Ecology of soil algae: a review

Cited by 105 publications

References 0 publications

A spatial investigation of the environmental controls over cryoconite aggregation on Longyearbreen glacier, Svalbard

A spatial investigation of the environmental controls over cryoconite aggregation on Longyearbreen glacier, Svalbard

Algal richness in BSCs in forests under different management intensity with some implications for P cycling

Algal diversity of temperate biological soil crusts depends on land use intensity and affects phosphorus biogeochemical cycling

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