Desert Bryophytes

Scott, George A.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-5891-3_4

Cited by 47 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Intuitively it would be expected that, by increasing surface roughness, microbiota would enhance vascular plant seedling survival by providing a greater number of 'safe sites' (Harper 1977), particularly during unfavourable times. Increased variation in microtopography might also result in small patterns of extra water and nutrients in homogeneous and flat landscapes (Scott 1982). In some areas dominated by blue-green algae, the microbiotic crust takes on a glazed appearance due to the algal skin, which persists well into summer even when cracked (Scott 1982).…”

Section: Microbiotic Crusts As Niches For Seed Entrapment and Germinamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased variation in microtopography might also result in small patterns of extra water and nutrients in homogeneous and flat landscapes (Scott 1982). In some areas dominated by blue-green algae, the microbiotic crust takes on a glazed appearance due to the algal skin, which persists well into summer even when cracked (Scott 1982). This skin increases the variability in surface roughness and microtopography, and helps to prevent sand from engulfing the plants growing on it.…”

Section: Microbiotic Crusts As Niches For Seed Entrapment and Germinamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microbiotic soil crusts - a review of their roles in soil and ecological processes in the rangelands of Australia

Eldridge¹,

Greene²

1994

Soil Res.

499

307

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Microbiotic crusts are assemblages of non-vascular plants (mosses, liverworts, algae, lichens, fungi, bacteria and cyanobacteria) which form intimate associations with surface soils. They play a major role in infiltration processes through changes to soil physico-chemical properties, and through their influence on soil surface roughness. Whilst some research suggests that they may restrict infiltration, Australian experience is that they are generally associated with enhanced infiltration. Unlike physical soil crusts, microbiotic crusts stabilize the soil against water and wind erosion, increasing landscape stability, particularly in areas of low vascular plant cover. Microbiotic crusts are thus useful indicators of soil surface condition, and cyanobacteria in the crusts fix nitrogen which may be utilized by developing vascular plant seedlings. Little is known, however, about how they interact with vascular plants and soil invertebrates. Their role in rangeland ecosystems has received renewed attention over the past few years with an increasing interest in ecologically sustainable development of arid and semi-arid grazing systems.In this review we discuss the characteristics and distribution of microbiotic crusts in the rangelands of Australia, their roles in soil and eco!ogical processes and the impacts of fire and grazing. Finally we propose a new system for classifying crusts into functional groups and identify areas requiring further investigation.

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Section: Microbiotic Crusts As Niches For Seed Entrapment and Germinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microbiotic Crusts As Niches For Seed Entrapment and Germinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiotic soil crusts - a review of their roles in soil and ecological processes in the rangelands of Australia

Eldridge¹,

Greene²

1994

Soil Res.

499

307

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Como exemplo pode ser citada Tortula muralis Hedw. (Pottiaceae), que em condições de laboratório sobreviveu a um período de dez meses de seca, e retomou a fotossíntese normal após poucas horas de reidratação (Scott 1982). …”

Section: Discussão E Conclusãounclassified

“…Bryum argenteum, Octoblepharum albidum). Nestes casos, segundo Scott (1982), embora a capacidade fotossintética seja reduzida, a eficiência é maior por permitir o máximo aproveitamento de água e luz disponíveis.…”

Section: Pôrto Ellllunclassified

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Briófitas da caatinga 1: Estação Experimental do IPA, Caruaru - PE

Pôrto¹,

Silveira²,

Sá³

1994

Acta Bot. Bras.

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Foi realizado o levantamento da brioflora de uma caatinga arbórea pertencente a Estação Experimental da Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisas Agropecuárias (IPA), situada no município de Caruaru (8º08'00"-8º10'00"S, 36º02'00"-36º 10'00"W), Pernambuco. A área estudada compreende 20ha, tem altitude aproximada de 550m e médias anuais de precipitação e temperatura de 671 mm e 23ºC, respectivamente. As coletas foram realizadas durante as estações de estiagem (out-nov/1990) e chuvosa (mai-jun/1991), tendo sido investigados os seguintes substratos: solo, rocha, caules vivos e em decomposição. Registraram-se 16 espécies de briófitas, sendo 14 Bryopsida e 2 Hepaticopsida. Bryaceae e Fissidentaceae foram as famílias de maior representatividade específica na área. A maioria das coletas indicou a predominância de espécies terrícolas e saxícolas, seguindo-se as corticícolas e as epíxilas. O trabalho contém informações sobre distribuição geográfica e aspectos ecológicos das espécies.

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Influence of cryptogamic crust disturbance to wind erosion on sand and loam rangeland soils

Leys¹,

Eldridge²

1998

Earth Surf. Process. Landforms

100

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A portable field wind tunnel was used to assess the sediment flux rates of loam and sand textured soils in the Mallee region of southeastern Australia. Three levels of crust disturbance (nil, moderate and severe) simulating stock trampling were investigated. The results demonstrated the importance of cryptogamic crusts in binding the soil surface and providing roughness after the soil was moderately disturbed. On the loamy soil, the crust helped maintain sediment flux rates below the erosion control target to 5 g m −1 s −1 for a 65 km h −1 wind measured at 10 m height. Once the crust was severely disturbed, sediment fluxes increased to 1·6 times the erosion target. On the sandy soil, even with no crust disturbance the sediment flux was 1·6 times the erosion control target. Disturbing the crust increased sediment fluxes to a maximum of 6·7 times the erosion control target. Removal of the crust also decreased the threshold wind velocity that resulted in an increase to the risk of erosion from <5 per cent to 20 per cent.

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Desert Bryophytes

Cited by 47 publications

References 34 publications

Microbiotic soil crusts - a review of their roles in soil and ecological processes in the rangelands of Australia

Microbiotic soil crusts - a review of their roles in soil and ecological processes in the rangelands of Australia

Briófitas da caatinga 1: Estação Experimental do IPA, Caruaru - PE

Influence of cryptogamic crust disturbance to wind erosion on sand and loam rangeland soils

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