Photosynthesis of Soil-Crust Biota as Dependent on Environmental Factors

Lange, O. L.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-56475-8_18

Cited by 149 publications

(215 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

202

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Fewer losses of carbon via respiration tend to compensate for the reduction in carbon assimilation caused by the litter; thus, helping to maintain positive or at least less negative overall carbon balances (Lange, 2003). For B. argenteum, the results are consistent with observations in mosses of positive correlations between the light intensity of the moss habitat and dark respiration (Gabriel and Bates, 2003;Waite and Sack, 2010).…”

Section: Differential Dark Respiration Among Treatments and Seasonssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The shading caused by the litter may reduce heat and drought stress, thus prolonging the period of photosynthetic activity. On the other hand, shading reduces the amount of light available for photosynthesis, and perhaps maintains the biocrust at temperatures below the optimal for photosynthesis, particularly during cool and moist periods when the biocrust organisms tend to be active (Lange, 2003). Based on these contrasting scenarios, the overall effect of litter on the functioning and growth of biocrusts is difficult to predict.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, biocrust responses to litter cover will be influenced by differences in metabolic requirements among species. The environmental conditions that allow positive rates of net photosynthesis vary among autotrophic species of the biocrust (Lange, 2003;Marschall and Proctor, 2004). As the microenvironment changes with the presence of litter, some species may be able to fulfill their photosynthetic requirements better than others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the carbon balance of different biocrust organisms will not be affected equally by the litter cover, which could lead to changes in biocrust composition Thompson et al, 2006). In addition, lichens and mosses adapt to changes in temperature and light intensity through various processes including adjustments in photosynthetic pigments, in the quantum efficiency for CO 2 assimilation, and in respiration (Lange, 2003;Marschall and Proctor, 2004;Lange and Green, 2005;Schroeter et al, 2012). The NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Soil Biology and Biochemistry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Bromus tectorum litter alters photosynthetic characteristics of biological soil crusts from a semiarid shrubland

Serpe

Roberts

Eldridge

et al. 2013

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Invasion by the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum has increased the cover and connectivity of fine litter in the sagebrush steppes of western North America. This litter tends to cover biological soil crusts, which could affect their metabolism and growth. To investigate this possible phenomenon, biological soil crusts dominated by either the moss Bryum argenteum or the lichen Diploschistes muscorum were covered with B. tectorum litter (litter treatment) or left uncovered (control treatment) and exposed to natural field conditions. After periods of five and ten months, we removed the litter and compared the photosynthetic performance of biological soil crusts from the two treatments. Litter induced photosynthetic changes in our samples. In both B. argenteum and D. muscorum, biological soil crusts that had been covered with litter for ten months had lower rates of gross photosynthesis and lower chlorophyll content than control samples. Similarly in both biological soil crust types, litter reduced the rate of dark respiration. For D. muscorum, the reduction in dark respiration fully compensated for the decrease in gross photosynthesis, resulting in similar values of net photosynthesis in the two treatments. In contrast, for B. argenteum, net photosynthesis was four-times greater in the control than the litter treatment. Also under litter cover, D. muscorum showed three common adaptations to shade conditions: a decrease in the light compensation point, in the light intensity needed to achieve 95% of maximal net photosynthesis, and in the chlorophyll a/b ratio. None of these changes was apparent in B. argenteum. Overall, our results indicate that photosynthetic responses to the presence of litter varied among species of the crust biota and that the litter can reduce the photosynthetic capacity of biological soil crusts. These results help to explain field observations of decreases in biological soil crust cover and changes in biological soil crust composition with increases in litter cover, and suggest that the landscape-wide invasion by B. tectorum may have substantial effects on biological soil crust performance and therefore their capacity to function in semiarid shrublands.Keywords: Biological soil crusts, Bromus tectorum, Bryum argenteum, Diploschistes muscorum, lichens, litter, mosses, photosynthesis, semiarid environments, sagebrush steppe Abbreviations: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts), ΔF/F m ', photosystem II operating efficiency, F v /F m , maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry; LCP, light compensation point, NPQ, non-photochemical quenching; PPFR 95% , light intensity necessary to achieve 95% of maximal net photosynthesis 2

show abstract

Section: Differential Dark Respiration Among Treatments and Seasonssupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Bromus tectorum litter alters photosynthetic characteristics of biological soil crusts from a semiarid shrubland

Serpe

Roberts

Eldridge

et al. 2013

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Biological soil crusts (BSCs) consisting of bryophytes, lichens, algae and associated microorganisms are known to establish in extreme environments [9][10][11] such as mine tailings 12,13 and can contribute significantly to the stabilisation of soils through soil aggregate formation [14][15][16][17] . BSCs could therefore potentially provide protection against the erosive forces of wind and water on tailings material.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of soil algae and cyanobacteria on gold mine tailings material

Seiderer¹,

Venter²,

Wyk³

et al. 2017

S. Afr. J. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The goal of revegetation of gold mine tailings storage facilities is to reduce aeolian pollution, nutrient leaching and erosion caused by exposure to wind and water. The establishment of biological soil crusts may prove to be a more cost-effective way to reach the same goal and the aim of this study was therefore to determine if it is possible to establish algae and cyanobacteria on gold mine tailings. Different treatments of Chlamydomonas, Microcoleus and Nostoc were inoculated on gold mine tailings in controlled conditions and algal growth was measured on all of the treatments after 6 weeks. Nostoc treatments had the highest chlorophyll-a concentrations and produced a surface crust, while Chlamydomonas treatments penetrated the tailings material and provided the strongest crust. The results were promising but more research is necessary to determine the best organism, or combination of organisms, to colonise mine tailings and to eventually produce biological crusts.

show abstract

Desert Environments: Biological Soil Crusts

García-Pichel¹

2003

Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Photosynthesis of Soil-Crust Biota as Dependent on Environmental Factors

Cited by 149 publications

References 31 publications

Bromus tectorum litter alters photosynthetic characteristics of biological soil crusts from a semiarid shrubland

Bromus tectorum litter alters photosynthetic characteristics of biological soil crusts from a semiarid shrubland

Growth of soil algae and cyanobacteria on gold mine tailings material

Desert Environments: Biological Soil Crusts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About