Contrasting effects of microbiotic crusts on runoff in desert surfaces

Kidron, Giora J.; Monger, H. Curtis; Vonshak, Avigad; Conrod, William

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.11.013

Cited by 72 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(96 reference statements)

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“…BSCs modify hydrological surface properties thereby altering water infiltration, which increases runoff amounts and frequencies and supports higher vegetation on run-on sites (Eldridge et al, 2000;Kidron et al, 2012;Yair et al, 2011). The modifications in hydrological surface properties are due to a multitude of factors associated with the BSCs, including texture (Fischer et al, 2013), surface roughness (Rodríguez-Caballero et al, 2012), vesicular porosity and capillary barriers , pore clogging and swelling of organic crust components (Fischer et al, 2010;Kidron et al, 1999) as well as water repellency (WR) (Drahorad et al, 2013b;Fischer et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological soil crusts cause subcritical water repellency in a sand dune ecosystem located along a rainfall gradient in the NW Negev desert, Israel

Keck¹,

Felde

Drahorad

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Abstract:The biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the NW Negev cause local water redistribution by increasing surface runoff. The effects of pore clogging and swelling of organic and inorganic crust components were intensively investigated in earlier studies. However, the effect of water repellency (WR) was not addressed systematically yet. This study investigates subcritical WR of BSCs in three different study sites in the NW Negev. For this purpose, three common methods to determine soil WR were used: (i) the repellency index (RI) method (ii) the water drop penetration time (WDPT) test and (iii) the Wilhelmy plate method (WPM). Furthermore, the potential influence of WR on local water redistribution is discussed and the applied methods are compared. We found the BSC to be subcritically water repellent. The degree of WR may only affect water redistribution on a microscale and has little influence on the ecosystem as a whole. The RI method was clearly the most appropriate to use, whereas the WDPT and the WPM failed to detect subcritical WR.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological soil crusts cause subcritical water repellency in a sand dune ecosystem located along a rainfall gradient in the NW Negev desert, Israel

Keck¹,

Felde

Drahorad

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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“…In contrast to loose sand that does not produce runoff and is therefore characterized by deep infiltration (Hillel and Tadmor, 1962;Kidron, 1999), these fine-grained playa surfaces do not facilitate deep infiltration while readily generating runoff (Blackburn, 1975;Kidron et al, 2012b;Kidron, 2014a). While runoff may take place in humid regions following water repellency (Cerdá, 1997;Lichner et al, 2007), this is not the case in NRS, where runoff is produced following surface pore clogging (Kidron, 2014a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking surface and subsurface properties of biocrusted and non-biocrusted habitats of fine-grained fluvial sediments (playas) from the Negev Desert

Kidron

2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Abstract:With biocrusts playing a cardinal role in C and N fixation in arid zones, information regarding the factors that determine their limits of growth is of uttermost importance for the study of ecosystem structure and function. This is also the case in the western Negev dunefields, where although abundant on the sandy surfaces, biocrusts are scarce on finegrained (mainly loessial) sediments, termed playas. In the Nizzana research site (NRS), visibly distinct surfaces, with and without biocrusts were noted within a single playa. In an attempt to characterize these distinct surfaces, a set of random measurements were carried out, which included measurements of crack density, microrelief and chlorophyll content of the upper 0-1 cm. Following a cluster analysis, four distinct types of surfaces (hereafter habitats) were defined, one with substantial amount of chlorophyll content which can be regarded as biocrust (P4), and three non-crusted surfaces (P1-P3). Within each type, two 50 cm-deep pits were dug and the pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and fine (silt and clay) content (FC) of samples collected at 1-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 and 40-50 cm-depth were analyzed. In addition, periodical moisture measurements were carried out (in pairs) to a depth of 0-20 cm at each surface type during 2013/14. All non-crusted habitats (P1-P3) were characterized by loessial subsurface sediments. Conversely, P4 was either characterized by loessial subsurface sediments (and in this case it was characterized by a slightly concave surface) or having a sandy subsurface (at ~5-10 cm depth). While the non-crusted surfaces exhibited low moisture content, P4 exhibited deeper and higher moisture content explained either by the more sandy sediments or by lower water loss through runoff. The findings point to the close link between surface and subsurface properties and indicate that water availability may explain biocrust establishment and growth also at the loessial playa surfaces. Biocrusts may thus serve as bioindicators for habitats with high moisture content.

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“…Soil crusts abound in the world's arid and semi-arid regions, where they play an important role in the ecosystem structure (Kidron et al 2012). Soil crusts consisting of aggregates, fine particles, cyanobacteria, various algae, lichens, mosses, and heterotrophs such as microfungi and bacteria are conspicuous components of the surfaces of desert soils (West 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of soil crusts on soil physicochemical characteristics in different rainfall zones of the arid and semi-arid desert regions of northern China

Chen

Duan

2014

Environ Earth Sci

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Soil crusts commonly form in arid and semi-arid desert regions once shifting sand dunes stabilize. The crusts affect soil properties such as texture and fertility. However, the role of crusts depends on the species composition, their physiological activity, and their stage of evolution, and varies with precipitation and season. In this study, the soil properties of physical and biological crusts in different rainfall zones of the arid and semi-arid desert regions of northern China were analyzed. More developed crusts had finer soil texture. The impact on chemical properties was greater in areas with higher precipitation. Contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nutrients, available N, and exchangeable ions did not vary among crust types in a hyperarid region. SOC, total N and P, and available N increased with crust development at 150-400 mm rainfall. Soil crusts increased available P during the initial stage of development. Crust development increased available K at 300-400 mm precipitation, but not at B250 mm precipitation. CaCO 3 changes were related to windblown dust and soil moisture in the crust. Electrical conductivity and total salinity varied in response to variation of soil nutrients and aeolian salt accumulation. The pH did not vary greatly between crust types and sites. Crust development was accompanied by soil alkalization. Ca 2? was more abundant than other cations. Crust development did not influence Cl -, but increased HCO 3 -and Na ? . During crust development, SO 4 2-and K ? contents decreased, and Mg 2? increased, in regions with B250 mm precipitation. The opposite changes occurred at 300-400 mm precipitation.

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Contrasting effects of microbiotic crusts on runoff in desert surfaces

Cited by 72 publications

References 72 publications

Biological soil crusts cause subcritical water repellency in a sand dune ecosystem located along a rainfall gradient in the NW Negev desert, Israel

Biological soil crusts cause subcritical water repellency in a sand dune ecosystem located along a rainfall gradient in the NW Negev desert, Israel

Linking surface and subsurface properties of biocrusted and non-biocrusted habitats of fine-grained fluvial sediments (playas) from the Negev Desert

Impacts of soil crusts on soil physicochemical characteristics in different rainfall zones of the arid and semi-arid desert regions of northern China

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