The Microbiology of Biological Soil Crusts

García-Pichel, Ferrán

doi:10.1146/annurev-micro-032521-015202

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 150 publications

(229 reference statements)

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“…Depending on environmental conditions and external influences, biocrusts can reach different successional stages, from a thin algal crust to moss-dominated or lichen crusts ( Langhans et al, 2009 ; Garcia-Pichel, 2023 ). The biocrusts observed at the little-disturbed site were mostly dominated by mosses, representing a later stage in succession ( Lan et al, 2012 ; Garcia-Pichel, 2023 ). One reason for this may be the high protection status of the dunes within the national park.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecophysiological performance of terrestrial diatoms isolated from biocrusts of coastal sand dunes

Glaser,

Kammann,

Plag

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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Terrestrial diatoms are widespread in a large variety of habitats and are regularly recorded in biocrusts. Although diatoms have long been known to live in terrestrial habitats, only a few studies have focused on their diversity of ecophysiology. Here we present a study on the ecophysiological performance of five terrestrial diatom cultures from biocrusts, which were collected in sand dunes of the German coast of the Baltic Sea. The sampling sites were selected along a gradient of human impacts on the dunes. The richness of diatom species, roughly estimated from permanent slides, was around 30 species per sampling site. The species abundance was calculated in the same way revealing a high proportion of broken diatom frustules. All diatom cultures established in the laboratory showed no photoinhibition and high oxygen production along a light gradient. The desiccation tolerance differed among the strains, with high recovery observed for Hantzschia abundans and Achnanthes coarctata and low to no recovery for Pinnularia borealis and Pinnularia intermedia. The maximum growth rate for most strains was between 25 and 30°C. These temperatures can be easily reached in their natural environments. Nevertheless, during short-term exposure to elevated temperatures, oxygen production was recorded up to 35°C. Interestingly, two of five diatom cultures (Hantzschia abundans and Pinnularia borealis) produced mycosporine-like amino acids. These UV-protective substances are known from marine diatoms but not previously reported in terrestrial diatoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecophysiological performance of terrestrial diatoms isolated from biocrusts of coastal sand dunes

Glaser,

Kammann,

Plag

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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“…With lichens and mosses necessitating higher water availability, referring to the cyanobacterial crusts as an initial successional stage is incorrect (Garcia-Pichel, 2023;Kidron, 2019a). In certain habitats, SWD may not be long enough to facilitate the required water availability for the germination and growth of lichens and mosses.…”

Section: Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

A false paradigm? Do biocrust types necessarily reflect ‘successional stages’?

Kidron,

Xiao

2023

Ecohydrology

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The term ‘succession’ was first proposed to describe the gradual development of plants from an initial stage such as a bare ground to a well‐developed plant community, which at its peak, may reach a climax (primary succession). Accordingly, the earlier and fast growing stage (such as an annual plant community) may grant stability, organic matter and nutrients to the latter, high‐biomass and slow‐growing stages, such as trees. Commonly, reference to the different successional stages is also made once intact and disturbed communities (such as due to mechanical disturbance, tillage, fire, etc.) are compared (secondary succession). The concept was borrowed by many ecologists to describe variable biocrust types. Cyanobacterial or algal biocrust is regarded as an initial stage before turning to a later, more mature biocrust, whether composed of lichens or mosses. The underlain assumptions are that (a) the cyanobacteria provide essential stability and (b) nutrients that are required for the development of the later stages; (c) the initial biocrusts improve the water regime for the later successional stages; (d) cyanobacteria promote the lichen symbiosis; (e) due to substantial differences in the recovery time, a linear succession is inevitable, commonly from cyanobacterial/alga to lichen and lastly to moss; and (f) the cyanobacterial/algal biocrust is a temporary stage, just before being outcompeted by a later stage. It is argued hereafter that the above‐mentioned assumptions are not necessarily correct. As with higher plants, unless a direct comparison between disturbed and intact crusts justifies a reference to successional stages, different types of biocrusts commonly reflect the abiotic conditions at their site, and as such, unless the abiotic conditions change, they reflect stable communities of variable crust types. This paradigm shift may have important implications regarding inoculation efforts and directions and may explain the low success thus far obtained following inoculation experiments once performed with the more developed biocrusts, lichens and mosses.

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“…To address these concerns, we utilized a multitrophic and self-sustainable model community, biological soil crust (biocrust) (Matthew A. Bowker et al, 2014; Garcia-Pichel, 2023), to examine the effects of microbial α -diversity on soil multifunctionality within local habitats and those of β -diversity components on the spatial variation of multifunctional levels cross a regional gradient of multifaceted precipitation regime ( Supplementary Note 1 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change impacts dryland multifunctionality: A cascade of precipitation variability to species replacement in multitrophic microbiota

Guo,

Li,

Wang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In the Anthropocene, the pervasive impacts of climate change on arid ecosystems are increasingly evident, resulting in significant alterations in both biodiversity and functionality. Although soil microbes are anticipated to be sensitive to changes in precipitation regimes, the mechanisms through which multifaceted precipitation changes impair the delivery of multiple functions by multitrophic microbiota in soils remain largely unexplored. In the drylands of Northwestern China, we examined the direct effects of historical precipitation regimes on the soil multifunctionality of biocrusts, a model system, and their indirect impacts mediated by microbial communities. Among abiotic predictors, precipitation variability, rather than mean annual precipitation, emerged as the primary driver of multifunctionality, leading to a convergence of less functionally beneficial species. By utilizing a biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship framework, our results underscore the crucial roles ofα- andβ-diversity of heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, and phototrophic cyanobacteria in maintaining soil functionality. However, the underlying mechanisms are distinct. We found that the local richness of heterotrophs and phylogenetic dissimilarity of photoautotrophs exert positive influences on multifunctionality, while species replacement, a component ofβ-diversity, primarily enhances the variance in soil multifunctionality. Importantly, the findings illuminate the cascading effect of precipitation variability on dryland ecosystems, amplified by microbial diversity, potentially triggering a silent collapse of vulnerable arid habitats. Our study highlights the importance of considering indirect climate impacts via soil microbiota, contributing to a deeper understanding of the real-world consequences of climate change on drylands, and offering valuable insights for the management of biodiversity theory-inspired ecosystem restoration.

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The Microbiology of Biological Soil Crusts

Cited by 18 publications

References 150 publications

Ecophysiological performance of terrestrial diatoms isolated from biocrusts of coastal sand dunes

Ecophysiological performance of terrestrial diatoms isolated from biocrusts of coastal sand dunes

A false paradigm? Do biocrust types necessarily reflect ‘successional stages’?

Climate change impacts dryland multifunctionality: A cascade of precipitation variability to species replacement in multitrophic microbiota

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