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Biological soil crusts of the Succulent Karoo: a review

MPS-Authors
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Weber,  Bettina
Multiphase Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Tamm,  Alexandra
Multiphase Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Maier,  Stephanie
Multiphase Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons192925

Rodriguez-Caballero,  Emilio
Multiphase Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Weber, B., Tamm, A., Maier, S., & Rodriguez-Caballero, E. (2018). Biological soil crusts of the Succulent Karoo: a review. African journal of range & forage science / Grassland Society of Southern Africa, 35(3/4), 335-350. doi:10.2989/10220119.2018.1527782.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0003-307A-E
Abstract
The Succulent Karoo is characterised by a dense coverage of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) belonging to different types and successional stages. Whereas the Soebatsfontein region hosts cyanobacteria-dominated and minor amounts of lichen- and bryophyte-dominated biocrusts, the Knersvlakte comprises a rich cover of hypolithic crusts growing on the sides and undersides of quartz pebbles. Apart from dominating photosynthesizers used to classify biocrusts, each crust type hosts a rich and specific fungal and bacterial community and also diverse protists. In a remote-sensing mapping approach, soil-inhabiting biocrusts of the Soebatsfontein region covered ∼27% of the surface area, whereas in the Knersvlakte soil-inhabiting biocrusts covered ∼16% and hypolithic biocrusts ∼42% of the region. Combining these data with biomass contents, results suggested that the Knersvlakte, despite somewhat harsher environmental conditions, harboured about 65% more biocrust biomass per surface area. In physiological measurements we observed that biocrusts emit the reactive nitrogen compounds nitric oxide and nitrous acid, showing water pulse-dependent emission patterns. In addition, CO2 gas fixation showed characteristic type-specific patterns depending on climatic conditions. Long-term microclimate measurements along a gradient revealed that forecasted climate and land-use change may be detrimental for biocrusts with potentially adverse effects on soil stability and overall fertility of the Succulent Karoo.