Articles | Volume 19, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3225-2022
© Author(s) 2022. 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-19-3225-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Jul 2022
Research article |
| 11 Jul 2022
| 11 Jul 2022
Pioneer biocrust communities prevent soil erosion in temperate forests after disturbances
Corinna Gall
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Soil Science and Geomorphology, Department of Geosciences, University
of Tübingen, Rümelinstr. 19–23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
Martin Nebel
Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn,
Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Dietmar Quandt
Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn,
Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Thomas Scholten
Soil Science and Geomorphology, Department of Geosciences, University
of Tübingen, Rümelinstr. 19–23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
Steffen Seitz
Soil Science and Geomorphology, Department of Geosciences, University
of Tübingen, Rümelinstr. 19–23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
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Short summary
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental challenges of our time, which also applies to forests when forest soil is disturbed. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) can play a key role as erosion control. In this study, we combined soil erosion measurements with vegetation surveys in disturbed forest areas. We found that soil erosion was reduced primarily by pioneer bryophyte-dominated biocrusts and that bryophytes contributed more to soil erosion mitigation than vascular plants.
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental challenges of our time, which also applies...
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