Articles | Volume 15, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-1919-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-1919-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Apr 2018
Research article |
| 03 Apr 2018
| 03 Apr 2018
Ecophysiological characterization of early successional biological soil crusts in heavily human-impacted areas
Michelle Szyja
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Plant Ecology and Systematics, University of
Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Burkhard Büdel
Department of Plant Ecology and Systematics, University of
Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Claudia Colesie
Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
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Cited
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Functional performance of biocrusts across Europe and its implications for drylands J. Raggio et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104402
- Exopolysaccharides in biological soil crusts are important contributors to carbon and nutrient storage after the restoration of inland sand dunes K. Chowaniec et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07258-0
- Virus-like particles isolated from reactivated biological soil crusts G. Mugnai et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01567-z
- Neglected but Potent Dry Forest Players: Ecological Role and Ecosystem Service Provision of Biological Soil Crusts in the Human-Modified Caatinga M. Szyja et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00482
- Biocrusts: Overlooked hotspots of managed soils in mesic environments C. Gall et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202200252
- Strong in combination: Polyphasic approach enhances arguments for cold‐assigned cyanobacterial endemism P. Jung et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.729
- Halophilic Algal Communities in Biological Soil Crusts Isolated From Potash Tailings Pile Areas V. Sommer et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.00046
- Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest M. Szyja et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322
- Biological Soil Crust From Mesic Forests Promote a Specific Bacteria Community K. Glaser et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.769767
- Correlation of the abundance of bacteria catalyzing phosphorus and nitrogen turnover in biological soil crusts of temperate forests of Germany J. Kurth et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-020-01515-3
- Pioneer biocrust communities prevent soil erosion in temperate forests after disturbances C. Gall et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3225-2022
- Assessment of cultured media for desert moss crust by physiological responses L. Tao et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202000665
- Algal richness in BSCs in forests under different management intensity with some implications for P cycling K. Glaser et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4181-2018
- An investigation into the effects of increasing salinity on photosynthesis in freshwater unicellular cyanobacteria during the late Archaean A. Herrmann & M. Gehringer https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12339
- Biocrust heterogeneity drives water balance in the topsoil of temperate sandy post-mining ecosystem K. Chowaniec et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-026-04386-7
- Importance of biocrusts for restoring ecosystem functions in two contrasting habitats of former sand mines K. Szafrańska et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2026.107905
- Biological soil crusts enhance nutrient availability and potential soil functions in waste dump soils Y. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07512-5
- Functional indicators of biocrusts in a temperate open-pit sand mine: Implications for early soil development K. CHOWANIEC et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2025.07.011
- Isolation and characterization of filamentous biological soil crust forming algae from Malaysia P. Chheang et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1091/1/012028
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Functional performance of biocrusts across Europe and its implications for drylands J. Raggio et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104402
- Exopolysaccharides in biological soil crusts are important contributors to carbon and nutrient storage after the restoration of inland sand dunes K. Chowaniec et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07258-0
- Virus-like particles isolated from reactivated biological soil crusts G. Mugnai et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01567-z
- Neglected but Potent Dry Forest Players: Ecological Role and Ecosystem Service Provision of Biological Soil Crusts in the Human-Modified Caatinga M. Szyja et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00482
- Biocrusts: Overlooked hotspots of managed soils in mesic environments C. Gall et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202200252
- Strong in combination: Polyphasic approach enhances arguments for cold‐assigned cyanobacterial endemism P. Jung et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.729
- Halophilic Algal Communities in Biological Soil Crusts Isolated From Potash Tailings Pile Areas V. Sommer et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.00046
- Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest M. Szyja et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322
- Biological Soil Crust From Mesic Forests Promote a Specific Bacteria Community K. Glaser et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.769767
- Correlation of the abundance of bacteria catalyzing phosphorus and nitrogen turnover in biological soil crusts of temperate forests of Germany J. Kurth et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-020-01515-3
- Pioneer biocrust communities prevent soil erosion in temperate forests after disturbances C. Gall et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3225-2022
- Assessment of cultured media for desert moss crust by physiological responses L. Tao et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202000665
- Algal richness in BSCs in forests under different management intensity with some implications for P cycling K. Glaser et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4181-2018
- An investigation into the effects of increasing salinity on photosynthesis in freshwater unicellular cyanobacteria during the late Archaean A. Herrmann & M. Gehringer https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12339
- Biocrust heterogeneity drives water balance in the topsoil of temperate sandy post-mining ecosystem K. Chowaniec et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-026-04386-7
- Importance of biocrusts for restoring ecosystem functions in two contrasting habitats of former sand mines K. Szafrańska et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2026.107905
- Biological soil crusts enhance nutrient availability and potential soil functions in waste dump soils Y. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07512-5
- Functional indicators of biocrusts in a temperate open-pit sand mine: Implications for early soil development K. CHOWANIEC et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2025.07.011
- Isolation and characterization of filamentous biological soil crust forming algae from Malaysia P. Chheang et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1091/1/012028
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 11 Jun 2026
Short summary
Ongoing human impact transforms habitats into surfaces lacking higher vegetation. Here, biological soil crusts (BSCs) provide ecosystem services like soil creation and carbon uptake. To understand the functioning of these areas, we examined the physiological capability of early successional BSCs. We found features enabling BSCs to cope with varying climatic stresses. BSCs are important carbon fixers independent of the dominating organism. We provide baseline data for modeling carbon fluxes.
Ongoing human impact transforms habitats into surfaces lacking higher vegetation. Here,...
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