Hydration status and diurnal trophic interactions shape microbial community function in desert biocrusts
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are self-organised thin assemblies of microbes, lichens, and mosses that are ubiquitous in arid regions and serve as important ecological and biogeochemical hotspots. Biocrust ecological function is intricately shaped by strong gradients of water, light, oxygen,...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.biogeosciences.net/14/5403/2017/bg-14-5403-2017.pdf |
| Summary: | Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are self-organised thin assemblies of
microbes, lichens, and mosses that are ubiquitous in arid regions and serve
as important ecological and biogeochemical hotspots. Biocrust ecological
function is intricately shaped by strong gradients of water, light, oxygen,
and dynamics in the abundance and spatial organisation of the microbial
community within a few millimetres of the soil surface. We report
a mechanistic model that links the biophysical and chemical processes that
shape the functioning of biocrust representative microbial communities that
interact trophically and respond dynamically to cycles of hydration, light,
and temperature. The model captures key features of carbon and nitrogen
cycling within biocrusts, such as microbial activity and distribution (during
early stages of biocrust establishment) under diurnal cycles and the
associated dynamics of biogeochemical fluxes at different hydration
conditions. The study offers new insights into the highly dynamic and
localised processes performed by microbial communities within thin desert
biocrusts. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |