Morphological groups: a framework for monitoring microphytic crusts in arid landscapes

Eldridge, David J.; Rosentreter, Roger

doi:10.1006/jare.1998.0468

Cited by 126 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The crust morphology largely determines its ecological function relative to water infiltration, erosion, water retention, and resistance and resiliency to disturbance (Eldridge and Rosentreter 1999). Morphological groups also convey an image of a particular organism.…”

Section: Morphological Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…West (1990) contends that this is due to difficulties in identifying the organisms in situ, lack of a standardized sampling procedure with often undue emphasis on laboratory culturing, lack of conspicuousness of some organisms (particularly when the soils are dry), and their patchiness in time and space. As identification is problematic, monitoring can be a daunting task to all but the most experienced (Eldridge and Rosentreter 1999).…”

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, strong relationships exist between form (morphology) of biological crust organisms and their ecological functioning in relation to landscape processes and disturbance (Eldridge and Rosentreter 1999). Morphology determines how crust organisms function ecologically (relative to erosion and water retention) and their tolerance to, and recovery from, physical disturbance.…”

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Morphology determines how crust organisms function ecologically (relative to erosion and water retention) and their tolerance to, and recovery from, physical disturbance. Morphological groups have been proposed as surrogates for species in biological crust monitoring (see Table 1.1; Kaltenecker 1997;Ponzetti et al 1998;Eldridge and Rosentreter 1999).…”

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These relationships hold true in different regions and continents and eliminate the need for complex, often confusing changes in nomenclature. Other advantages of morphological groups for rangeland monitoring include ease of identification, which is independent of sexual reproductive structures, and the ability to monitor sites more quickly with less specialized staff (Eldridge and Rosentreter 1999). Cover and abundance measures of morphological groups can be obtained more rapidly than measuring each individual species.…”

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. DrylandsA Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands

Root

2013

The Bryologist

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Section: Morphological Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Using Morphological Groups For Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. DrylandsA Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands

Root

2013

The Bryologist

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Simulated climate change affects how biocrusts modulate water gains and desiccation dynamics after rainfall events

et al. 2018

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Soil surface communities dominated by mosses, lichens and cyanobacteria (biocrusts) are common between vegetation patches in drylands worldwide, and are known to affect soil wetting and drying after rainfall events. While ongoing climate change is already warming and changing rainfall patterns of drylands in many regions, little is known on how these changes may affect the hydrological behaviour of biocrust-covered soils. We used eight years of continuous soil moisture and rainfall data from a climate change experiment in central Spain to explore how biocrusts modify soil water gains and losses after rainfall events under simulated changes in temperature (2.5°C warming) and rainfall (33% reduction). Both rainfall amount and biocrust cover increased soil water gains after rainfall events, whereas experimental warming, rainfall intensity and initial soil moisture decreased them. Initial moisture, maximum temperature and biocrust cover, by means of enhancing potential evapotranspiration or by soil darkening, increased the drying rates and enhanced the exponential behaviour of the drying events. Meanwhile, warming reduced their exponential behaviour. The effects of climate change treatments on soil water gains and losses changed through time, with important differences between the first two years of the experiment and five years after its setup. These effects were mainly driven by the important reductions in biocrust cover and diversity observed under warming. Our results highlight the importance of long-term studies to understand soil moisture responses to ongoing climate change in drylands.

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Could biological soil crusts act as natural fire fuel breaks in the sagebrush steppe?

Condon

Shinneman

Rosentreter

et al. 2023

Ecology

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Morphological groups: a framework for monitoring microphytic crusts in arid landscapes

Cited by 126 publications

References 37 publications

A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. DrylandsA Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands

A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. DrylandsA Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands

Simulated climate change affects how biocrusts modulate water gains and desiccation dynamics after rainfall events

Could biological soil crusts act as natural fire fuel breaks in the sagebrush steppe?

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