Article
Soil Science
Chao Guan, Ning Chen, Linjie Qiao, Changming Zhao
Summary: Biological soil crusts play a key role in the carbon cycle of drylands, but our understanding of their direct and indirect effects on soil respiration is limited. This study found that although biological crusts had an overall positive effect on soil respiration, there were also contrasting effects. Additionally, biological crusts decreased the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gaetano Guida, Alessio Nicosia, Luca Settanni, Vito Ferro
Summary: This paper analyzes the current knowledge about Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) by reviewing 163 papers published from 1990 to 2023. It provides a summary of the main detection methods for BSCs and discusses their influence on soil characteristics, hydrology, and erosion processes. The results show conflicting findings regarding the effects of BSCs on soil hydrology, while their positive effects on soil characteristics and resistance to soil erosion are widely recognized.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Gianmarco Mugnai, Milda Stuknyte, Stefania Arioli, Giorgio Gargari, Alessandra Adessi, Diego Mora
Summary: A novel method was developed for extracting and characterizing virus-like particles from biological soil crust after microbial community reactivation. The study found that hydrated BSC under light/dark conditions had the highest number of viable cells, which was optimal for VLP isolation. Viral predation was identified as a key factor in shaping and maintaining bacterial diversity in BSCs.
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Xiaoping Tu, Risheng Yao, Lijun Hu, Difeng Xu, Hao Yang
Summary: A coastal fog patch near Zhejiang Province, China, on 1 April 2021 was investigated using various observation techniques and model simulations. The fog episode displayed macro-microphysical characteristics through five stages, including formation, burst, and dissipation. Moisture convergence associated with sea breeze played a crucial role in fog formation, along with weak ascent and low cloud formation. The collision-coalescence process intensified during the burst stage, and the top-cooling entrainment was the main reason for fog dissipation.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Andrea Barrera, Ian S. Acuna-Rodriguez, Gabriel I. Ballesteros, Cristian Atala, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro
Summary: This study described the bacterial composition of Biological Soil Crusts (BSC) found in Maritime Antarctica and revealed their positive effects on soil moisture, nutrient levels, enzymatic activity, and the growth and performance of Colobanthus quitensis. The results suggest that BSCs play a crucial role in soil development and act as ecosystem engineers in the terrestrial Antarctic ecosystem.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Atheer A. Abbood, Abdul-Sahib T. Al-Madhhachi
Summary: This study reveals that with increasing curing times, the value of b(0) for crusted soils decreased by up to 60%, reaching optimal values at 2 weeks. There was no consistent pattern observed for b(1) at different curing times. Additionally, as the concentration of HA increased, the value of b(0) decreased significantly by 86% and 99% for crusted and uncrusted soils respectively. Furthermore, HA improved soil characteristics such as electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter, thereby reducing soil erodibility.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qing Mao, Xi Xie, Diego A. Pinzon-Nunez, Zuoming Xie, Taikun Liu, Sana Irshad
Summary: This study investigates the use of biological soil crusts (BSCs) for immobilization of metal(loid)s in mining areas. The co-inoculation of Leptolyngbya sp. XZMQ and Bacillus XZM successfully formed BSCs, which increased soil pH and water content, while decreasing soil EC and density. The presence of these BSCs enhanced the activities of soil enzymes and immobilized As through the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The findings suggest a new method for the remediation of As-contaminated soil in mining areas.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Clayton J. Nevins, Patrick W. Inglett, Sarah L. Strauss
Summary: Biocrusts in a Florida citrus orchard significantly impacted microbial community composition, potentially influencing nutrient cycling, crop nutrient uptake and growth, and soil health.
Article
Soil Science
Alberto Agnelli, Giuseppe Corti, Luisa Massaccesi, Stefano Ventura, Luigi P. D'Acqui
Summary: The study showed that biological soil crusts, when able to develop on stable ice-free surfaces, can modify soil structure, increase organic matter content and nutrient supply, thereby promoting soil formation and stability in polar ecosystems.
Article
Microbiology
Qian Chen, Ni Yan, Kangning Xiong, Jiawei Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the diversity of cyanobacterial communities and soil properties in three karst desertification areas in the Guizhou Plateau. The results showed that the number of cyanobacterial species increased with the intensity of karst desertification, and soil nutrient content played an important role in regulating the cyanobacterial diversity and composition.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qing Liu, Zhao-yu Wang, Bin-gui Wu, Jing-le Liu, Hao-hao Nie, De-hua Chen, Ismail Gultepe
Summary: The study on sudden fog visibility changes in polluted urban air conditions identified six fog bursting events in Tianjin, China, during which higher droplet number concentration, liquid water content, and PM2.5 mass concentration were observed. Visibility decreased while mean and turbulence kinetic energy increased during fog bursting events. After the events, fog became deeper and optically thicker, with a broader fog droplet spectra and increased Nd concentrations. The findings suggest the need for further study and inclusion of fog bursting conditions in numerical weather forecast models.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Vanessa M. C. Fernandes, Jennifer A. Rudgers, Scott L. Collins, Ferran Garcia-Pichel
Summary: Future climate changes will affect the frequency and size of rainfall events in drylands, leading to potential impacts on soil microbial communities. A study on altered rainfall patterns over 12 years found that increased small rain events promoted microbial diversity and biomass, while large rain events did not consistently have the same effect.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alexandra Maria Kratz, Stefanie Maier, Jens Weber, Minsu Kim, Giacomo Mele, Laura Gargiulo, Anna Lena Leifke, Maria Prass, Raeid M. M. Abed, Yafang Cheng, Hang Su, Ulrich Poeschl, Bettina Weber
Summary: Biocrusts in drylands play a crucial role in biological nitrogen fixation and release of gaseous reactive nitrogen. This study reveals the simultaneous occurrence of aerobic and anaerobic nitrogen transformations in small-scale gradients within biocrusts. These processes are critical for nitrogen emissions and may be influenced by future global change and land management.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ting Xie, Wanli Shi, Haotian Yang, Jie Lian, Xiaojun Li
Summary: This study investigates the soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization rates of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the revegetated sites of Tengger Desert. The results show that the SOC mineralization rate of BSCs and subsoils is significantly higher than that of the mobile sand dune (MSD), and it increases with site age. Various factors such as vegetation characteristics, soil properties, temperature, and soil water content affect the SOC mineralization process.
Article
Remote Sensing
Zhengdong Wang, Bingfang Wu, Zonghan Ma, Miao Zhang, Hongwei Zeng, Leidong Yang
Summary: This study used satellite spectral data to measure and analyze the response of the spectral characteristics of biological soil crusts (BSCs) to different succession states, moisture conditions, and growth patterns. The results showed that succession, moisture, and growth were the main factors affecting the spectra of BSCs. It was also found that different types of BSCs can be distinguished to determine the degree of succession in a specific climate context. The study emphasized the importance of considering precipitation in monitoring areas to avoid the effects of dry and wet BSC variations on remote sensing monitoring. Multiple spectral indices can be used to determine the coverage of different BSC types in mixed pixels. The findings of this study provide a basis for using satellite spectral information to monitor BSCs and guide regional ecological management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Ekaterina Pushkareva, Karen Baumann, Anh Tu Van, Tatiana Mikhailyuk, Christel Baum, Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz, Eduard Demchenko, Dominika Thiem, Tina Koepcke, Ulf Karsten, Peter Leinweber
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description of microbial community composition and phosphorus distribution in Icelandic biocrusts, which were previously overlooked. The research found that Icelandic biocrusts have high phosphorus content, with microbial biomass phosphorus constituting only a small fraction, and that moderately labile phosphorus dominates in the biocrusts.
Article
Microbiology
Patrick Jung, Paul M. D'Agostino, Burkhard Buedel, Michael Lakatos
Summary: Research on the cyanobacterial strain 'Fischerella ambigua 108b' unveiled new bioactive compounds and led to the classification of the strain as Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28 through a polyphasic approach. This newly classified strain sheds light on the bioactive metabolites of heterocytous and true-branching cyanobacteria, suggesting its placement into a separate genus.
Article
Forestry
Martin Haeusser, Sonja Szymczak, Isabel Knerr, Joerg Bendix, Emilie Garel, Frederic Huneau, Katja Trachte, Sebastien Santoni, Achim Braeuning
Summary: The study examined the impact of extreme drought in 2017 and exceptional wetness in 2018 on stem radial variations of Corsican Black pine and Maritime pine. Both tree species showed different responses to climate variations based on elevation, with higher elevations experiencing more severe tree water deficits. Stem radial variations were significantly correlated with precipitation and temperature, emphasizing the influence of climate on tree growth patterns.
Article
Forestry
Oliver Limberger, Juergen Homeier, Nina Farwig, Franz Pucha-Cofrep, Andreas Fries, Christoph Leuschner, Katja Trachte, Joerg Bendix
Summary: This study analyzed how 52 tree species of a megadiverse mountain rain forest separate into local tree functional types (TFTs) for two functions: biomass production and solar radiation partitioning. Optical trait indicators (OTIs) were derived by relating leaf optical metrics and functional traits through factor analysis, distinguishing four OTIs for biomass production and four for solar radiation partitioning. The TFTs support LSM simulations used to analyze the functioning of mountain rainforests under climate change.
Article
Biology
Patrick Jung, Paul M. D'Agostino, Katharina Brust, Burkhard Buedel, Michael Lakatos
Summary: This study identified the taxonomic position of strain PCC 6712 using morphology, genome analysis, and phylogeny, as well as detected shared genes with its closest relative and potential bioactive gene clusters. The presence of a full set of nitrogen fixation genes in PCC 6712, despite its inability to grow on nitrogen-free medium, was also highlighted. Additionally, a comparison of genes responsible for multicellularity revealed important aspects of cyanobacterial taxonomy.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Isabel Knerr, Katja Trachte, Sebastian Egli, Johannes A. C. Barth, Achim Brauning, Emilie Garel, Martin Haeusser, Frederic Huneau, Tobias R. Juhlke, Sebastien Santoni, Sonja Szymczak, Robert van Geldern, Joerg Bendix
Summary: The French Mediterranean island of Corsica is experiencing a clear trend towards water shortage, with fog being identified as a potential but not widely used water source. A study on foglow stratus frequencies in Corsica revealed that radiation FLS is mainly formed in coastal areas at sunrise with low planetary boundary layer height, while advection FLS peaks in the island's interior at sunset due to locally-generated moisture transport. The frequency of FLS is lower on the east side of the island throughout the year, attributed to lee situations and reduced synoptic moisture transport by westerly winds.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabry M. Shaheen, Jianxu Wang, Karen Baumann, Ashour A. Ahmed, Liang-Ching Hsu, Yu-Ting Liu, Shan-Li Wang, Oliver Kuehn, Peter Leinweber, Joerg Rinklebe
Summary: The study reveals that in arable soils, P, Fe2+, and OC mobilize at E-H <= 200 mV, while P immobilizes at E-H > 200 mV due to strong binding with Fe3+. Additionally, pH changes and interactions with Fe3+, organic carbon, and carbonates play a key role in the migration and retention of P during redox processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Felix Nieberding, Christian Wille, Yaoming Ma, Yuyang Wang, Philipp Maurischat, Lukas Lehnert, Torsten Sachs
Summary: This study reveals a significant increase in carbon uptake in a central Tibetan alpine steppe ecosystem over the past 14 years, attributed to widespread greening around Lake Nam Co. Changes in temperature and precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau impact plant growth and carbon cycling, with a tendency to stimulate plant growth and increase carbon uptake.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Karen Baumann, Kai-Uwe Eckhardt, Ingo Schoening, Marion Schrumpf, Peter Leinweber
Summary: The study found that grassland management plays a significant role in influencing the composition and stability of soil organic matter (SOM), impacting the dynamics of SOM in grasslands. However, the proportion and composition of the soil clay fraction, particularly when the soil clay/OC ratio is low, can override the effects of grassland management on SOM composition and stability.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Karin Glaser, Martin Albrecht, Karen Baumann, Jorg Overmann, Johannes Sikorski
Summary: The bacterial community in biocrusts represents a subset of the community in the neighboring soil, with higher abundance of bacterial families involved in degradation of large carbon molecules and bacterivores. The bacterial richness is positively correlated with the content of mucilage producing algae.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Patrick Jung, Veronika Sommer, Ulf Karsten, Michael Lakatos
Summary: This study aims to determine a potential niche concept for the genus Cyanocohniella based on salt tolerance. Results showed that C. rudolphia sp. nov. and C. crotaloides strains exhibited optimum growth at 4% NaCl concentration, supporting the hypothesis that the genus may have a marine origin and expanded colonization to salty terrestrial habitats. The ecological and biotechnological relevance of the findings were discussed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thanh-Noi Phan, Batnyambuu Dashpurev, Felix Wiemer, Lukas W. Lehnert
Summary: A simple, fast, and accurate method for producing high-resolution land cover maps in Mongolia has been proposed, which is crucial for land degradation research and resource monitoring.
GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philipp Maurischat, Lukas Lehnert, Vinzenz H. D. Zerres, Tuong Vi Tran, Karsten Kalbitz, Asmund Rinnan, Xiao Gang Li, Tsechoe Dorji, Georg Guggenberger
Summary: The Tibetan Plateau is a sensitive alpine environment that plays a vital role in Asia's water supply and contains significant ice masses and alpine grasslands. Intensified land-use and global climate change have put pressure on the Tibetan Plateau's ecosystem. This study investigated the variability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to understand nutrient and energy fluxes within the region. The findings highlighted the importance of DOM as a marker for studying the impact of land use and climate change on biogeochemical processes in high-altitude alpine ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Volker Raffelsbauer, Franz Pucha-Cofrep, Simone Strobl, Johannes Knuesting, Michael Schorsch, Katja Trachte, Renate Scheibe, Achim Braeuning, David Windhorst, Joerg Bendix, Brenner Silva, Erwin Beck
Summary: This study investigates transpiration in a tropical evergreen mountain forest in the Ecuadorian Andes, focusing on nocturnal plant-water relations. It found that despite the humid climate, plants transpired both day and night, with short spells of drought increasing daily transpiration, especially through nighttime transpiration. The study also observed that the extent of diurnal stem circumference fluctuations corresponded with the grouping of tree species based on their water relations.
Article
Forestry
Martin Haeusser, Sugam Aryal, Johannes A. C. Barth, Joerg Bendix, Emilie Garel, Robert van Geldern, Frederic Huneau, Tobias R. Juhlke, Isabel Knerr, Sebastien Santoni, Sonja Szymczak, Katja Trachte, Achim Braeuning
Summary: Black pine and Maritime pine show different growth phenology with a 1-month delay for xylogenesis and increasing growth rates from low to high elevations. Investigating seasonal wood formation is crucial to understanding tree growth responses to climate impact.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2023)