1
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Pagli C, Chamizo S, Migliore G, Rugnini L, De Giudici G, Braglia R, Canini A, Cantón Y. Isolation of biocrust cyanobacteria and evaluation of Cu, Pb, and Zn immobilisation potential for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174020. [PMID: 38897475 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Soil contamination by heavy metals represents an important environmental and public health problem of global concern. Biocrust-forming cyanobacteria offer promise for heavy metal immobilisation in contaminated soils due to their unique characteristics, including their ability to grow in contaminated soils and produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). However, limited research has analysed the representativeness of cyanobacteria in metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, there is a lack of studies examining how cyanobacteria adaptation to specific environments can impact their metal-binding capacity. To address this research gap, we conducted a study analysing the bacterial communities of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts in a contaminated area from South Sardinia (Italy). Additionally, by using two distinct approaches, we isolated three Nostoc commune strains from cyanobacteria-dominated biocrust and we also evaluated their potential to immobilise heavy metals. The first isolation method involved acclimatizing biocrust samples in liquid medium while, in the second method, biocrust samples were directly seeded onto agar plates. The microbial community analysis revealed Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria as the predominant groups, with cyanobacteria representing between 13.3 % and 26.0 % of the total community. Despite belonging to the same species, these strains exhibited different growth rates (1.1-2.2 g L-1 of biomass) and capacities for EPS production (400-1786 mg L-1). The three strains demonstrated a notable ability for metal immobilisation, removing up to 88.9 % of Cu, 86.2 % of Pb, and 45.3 % of Zn from liquid medium. Cyanobacteria EPS production showed a strong correlation with the removal of Cu, indicating its role in facilitating metal immobilisation. Furthermore, differences in Pb immobilisation (40-86.2 %) suggest possible environmental adaptation mechanisms of the strains. This study highlights the promising application of N. commune strains for metal immobilisation in soils, offering a potential bioremediation tool to combat the adverse effects of soil contamination and promote environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Pagli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
| | - Sonia Chamizo
- Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; Department of Desertification and Geo-Ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Giada Migliore
- ENEA, Territorial and Production Systems Sustainability Department, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rugnini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Giudici
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Braglia
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | - Yolanda Cantón
- Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; Center for Research on Scientific Collections of the University of Almeria (CECOUAL), Spain
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2
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Lan S, Elliott DR, Chamizo S, Felde VJMNL, Thomas AD. Editorial: Biological soil crusts: spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1447058. [PMID: 39139371 PMCID: PMC11319241 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1447058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shubin Lan
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Songyuan, China
| | - David R. Elliott
- Nature-Based Solutions Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Chamizo
- Desertification and Geoecology Department, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA, CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde
- Institute of Earth System Sciences, Section Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrew D. Thomas
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
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Dal-Ferro LS, Schenider A, Missiaggia DG, Silva LJ, Maciel-Silva AS, Figueredo CC. Organizing a global list of cyanobacteria and algae from soil biocrusts evidenced great geographic and taxonomic gaps. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae086. [PMID: 38816216 PMCID: PMC11221558 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Biocrusts determine soil stability and resiliency, with a special role played by oxygenic photoautotrophic microorganisms in these communities. We evaluated temporal and geographic trends in studies focused on these microorganisms in biocrusts. Two databases were surveyed to obtain scientific articles published from 1998 to 2020 containing the terms 'biocrusts,' 'algae,' and 'cyanobacteria.' Although interest in biocrusts has increased recently, their ecological importance is still little explored. The scientific articles that mentioned a species list of cyanobacteria and/or algae revealed a very heterogeneous geographic distribution of research. Biocrusts have not been explored in many regions and knowledge in the tropics, where these communities showed high species richness, is limited. Geographic gaps were detected and more detailed studies are needed, mainly where biocrust communities are threatened by anthropogenic impacts. Aiming to address these knowledge gaps, we assembled a taxonomic list of all algae and cyanobacteria found in these articles, including information on their occurrence and ecology. This review is an updated global taxonomic survey of biocrusts, which importantly reveals their high species richness of oxygenic photoautotrophic microorganisms. We believe this database will be useful to future research by providing valuable taxonomic and biogeographic information regarding algae and cyanobacteria in biocrusts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Soares Dal-Ferro
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Arthur Schenider
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Dabny Goulart Missiaggia
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Libério Junio Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Divisão de Observação da Terra e Geoinformática (DIOTG), 12227-010 São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adaíses Simone Maciel-Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cleber Cunha Figueredo
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Monteiro J, Domingues I, Brilhante M, Serafim J, Nunes S, Trigo R, Branquinho C. Changes in bryophyte functional composition during post-fire succession. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171592. [PMID: 38479526 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Climate and land-use changes are altering fire regimes in many regions around the world. To date, most studies have focused on the effects of altered fire regimes on woody and herbaceous communities, while the mechanisms driving post-fire bryophyte succession remain poorly understood, particularly in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Here, we examined changes in bryophyte functional composition along a post-fire chronosequence (ranging from 1 to 20+ years) in Pyrenean oak woodlands (northeastern Portugal). To do so, we defined bryophyte functional groups based on seven morphological, reproductive, and life history traits. Then, we fitted linear and structural equation models to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of fire (time since fire and fire intensity), vegetation structure, climate, topography, and edaphic conditions on the abundance of each group. We identified two main functional groups: early colonizers (species with traits associated with strong colonization ability and desiccation tolerance) and perennial stayers (species with high competitive ability, i.e., large perennial mosses). Overall, the abundance of early colonizer species decreased with time since fire and increased with fire intensity, while the opposite was observed for perennial stayers. Thus, successional dynamics reflected a trade-off between species' competitive and colonization abilities, highlighting the role of biotic interactions later in succession. Patterns of functional composition were also consistent with changes in environmental conditions during succession, suggesting that species may experience stressful conditions (i.e., high radiation and low water availability) in early stages of post-fire succession. Our results also indicate that increased fire intensity may alter successional trajectories, leading to long-term changes in bryophyte communities. By understanding the response of bryophyte communities to fire, we were able to identify species with potential use as soil restoration materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Monteiro
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Inês Domingues
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel Brilhante
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João Serafim
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Nunes
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ricardo Trigo
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-919, Brazil.
| | - Cristina Branquinho
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Liu L, Zhang Y, Guo L, Cao H, Dai Z, Zhao Z, Guo Y, Li D, Zheng L, Li T. Experimental test and mechanism analysis of soil crust erosion resistance of rammed earth Great Wall in rainy season. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9069. [PMID: 38643235 PMCID: PMC11032390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59706-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Rammed earth is a kind of cleaning material, widely used in all kinds of buildings in the world. The Great Wall of ancient China is a typical world cultural site built from rammed earth. The rammed earth Great Wall of Shanhaiguan is close to Bohai Bay, which has suffered from long-term erosion by rain, causing a series of problems such as soil loss, collapse and gully flushing. The protection materials of the rammed earth site have always puzzled scholars. However, during the rainy season, it was found that some of the walls at Xiaowan Gouge and Nantuzhuang Gouge in the Shanhaiguan Great Wall had unwashed traces, the soil surface of the walls was intact, and the anti-erosion ability of the walls was significantly higher than that of other places. In order to explore the reasons for its strong anti-erosion ability in the natural state of rammed earth wall, guide the protection of rammed earth Great Wall, and carry out different experimental tests to explore its anti-erosion reasons and internal mechanisms. Firstly, the characteristics of rammed soil were understood through the composition test of rammed soil, and the indoor and outdoor erosion test was carried out to determine that the anti-erosion reason was the protection of gray-green soil crust. The property and composition of soil crust were determined through the immersion test and genome sequencing. Finally, the protection mechanism of soil crust was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Liu
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- The Eighth Geological Brigade, Hebei Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration, Qinhuangdao, 066001, China.
| | - Yun Zhang
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Lianjun Guo
- The Eighth Geological Brigade, Hebei Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration, Qinhuangdao, 066001, China.
| | - Haiying Cao
- School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China.
| | - Zhenwei Dai
- Wuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan, 430205, China.
| | - Zhiyong Zhao
- Cultural Tourism Bureau, Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao, 066200, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Cultural Tourism Bureau, Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao, 066200, China
| | - Dongdong Li
- Hebei Jianyan Architectural Design Co. Ltd., Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
| | - Lingling Zheng
- National Aquatic Biological Resource Center, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Tianli Li
- National Aquatic Biological Resource Center, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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6
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Zhou X, Liang B, Zhang T, Xiong Q, Ma X, Chen L. Co-inoculation of fungi and desert cyanobacteria facilitates biological soil crust formation and soil fertility. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1377732. [PMID: 38650889 PMCID: PMC11033444 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1377732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The inoculation of cyanobacteria for enriching soil nutrients and forming biological soil crusts (BSCs) is considered an effective means to restore degraded soil. However, there are limited studies on the application of co-inoculation of fungi and cyanobacteria for degraded soil remediation. In this study, a high exopolysaccharide-secreting fungi Zh2 was isolated from lichen BSCs in Hobq Desert, and co-inoculated with a cyanobacterial strain identified as Phormidium tenue in different proportions to form BSCs on sand during a 35 days incubation period. Results revealed significant differences in crust biomass and soil properties among crusts with different cyanobacterial/fungal inoculation ratios. Microbial biomass, soil nutrient content and enzyme activities in crusts co-inoculated with cyanobacteria and fungi were higher than those inoculated with cyanobacteria and fungi alone. The inoculation of cyanobacteria contributed to the fulvic-like accumulation, and the inoculated fungi significantly increased the humic-like content and soil humification. Redundancy analysis showed that the inoculation of cyanobacteria was positively correlated with the activities of urease and phosphatase, and the content of fulvic-like. Meanwhile, the inoculation of fungi was positively correlated with the contents of total carbon, total nitrogen and humic-like, the activities of catalase and sucrase. Cyanobacteria and fungi play distinct roles in improving soil fertility and accumulating dissolved organic matter. This study provides new insights into the effects of cyanobacteria and fungi inoculations on the formation and development of cyanobacterial-fungus complex crusts, offering a novel method for accelerating induced crust formation on the surface of sand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjun Zhou
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass-Resources Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Liang
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Qiao Xiong
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Lanzhou Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass-Resources Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Ivanovska A, Milošević M, Lađarević J, Jankoska M, Matić T, Svirčev Z, Kostić M. A step towards tuning the jute fiber structure and properties by employing sodium periodate oxidation and coating with alginate. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128668. [PMID: 38092097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper outlines a novel simple protocol for tuning the structure and properties of jute using sodium periodate (NaIO4) oxidation and coating with alginate. When compared to the raw jute, fabrics oxidized with a 0.2 or 0.4 % NaIO4 solution for 30-120 min exhibited an increased aldehyde group content (0.185 vs. 0.239-0.398 mmol/g), a significantly increased negative zeta potential (from -8.57 down to -20.12 mV), a slight disruption of fiber crystallinity, 15.1-37.5 % and 27.9-49.8 % lower fabric maximum force and stiffness, respectively. Owing to the removal of hydrophobic surface barrier, decreased crystallinity index and the presence of micropores on the fabrics' surfaces, oxidized fabrics have a 22.3-29.6 % improved ability for moisture sorption compared to raw fabric. Oxidized fabrics characterized by very long wetting times and excellent antioxidant activities (> 98 %), can find applications as hydrophobic packaging materials. To further extend the utilization of jute in biocarpet engineering such as water-binding geo-prebiotic supports, oxidized fabrics were coated with alginate resulting in 7.9-24.9 % higher moisture sorption and 352-660 times lower wetting times than their oxidized counterparts. This modification protocol has never been applied to lignocellulosic fibers and sheds new light on obtaining jute fabrics with tuned structure and properties intended for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ivanovska
- University of Belgrade, Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marija Milošević
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Lađarević
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Maja Jankoska
- Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Ruger Boskovic 16, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.
| | - Tamara Matić
- University of Belgrade, Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Zorica Svirčev
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Mirjana Kostić
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
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Rillig MC. Protecting Old-Growth Microbial Communities and Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1787-1789. [PMID: 38241224 PMCID: PMC10832031 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias C. Rillig
- Freie
Universität Berlin, Institut für
Biologie, Altensteinstrasse
6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg
Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Qiu D, Bowker MA, Xiao B, Zhao Y, Zhou X, Li X. Mapping biocrust distribution in China's drylands under changing climate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167211. [PMID: 37730025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are widely distributed in global drylands and have multiple significant roles in regulating dryland soil and ecosystem multifunctionality. However, maps of their distribution over large spatial scales are uncommon and sometimes unreliable, because our current remote sensing technology is unable to efficiently discriminate between biocrusts and vascular plants or even bare soil across different ecosystem and soil types. The lack of biocrust spatial data may limit our ability to detect risks to dryland function or key tipping points. Here, we indirectly mapped biocrust distribution in China's drylands using spatial prediction modeling, based on a set of occurrences of biocrusts (379 in total) and high-resolution soil and environmental data. The results showed that biocrusts currently cover 13.9 % of China's drylands (or 5.7 % of China's total area), with moss-, lichen-, and cyanobacterial-dominated biocrusts each occupying 5.7 % to 10.7 % of the region. Biocrust distribution is mainly determined by soil properties (soil type and contents of gravel and nitrogen), aridity stress, and altitude. Their most favorable habitat is arenosols with low contents of gravel and nitrogen, in climate with a drought index of 0.54 and an altitude of about 500 m. By 2050, climate change will lead to a 5.5 %-9.0 % reduction in biocrust cover. Lichen biocrusts exhibit a high vulnerability to climate change, with potential reductions of up to 19.0 % in coverage. Biocrust cover loss is primarily caused by the combined effects of the elevated temperature and increased precipitation. Our study provides the first high-resolution (250 × 250 m) map of biocrust distribution in China's drylands and offers a reliable approach for mapping regional or global biocrust colonization. We suggest incorporating biocrusts into Earth system models to identify their significant impact on global or regional-scale processes under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexun Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China/Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Bo Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China/Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
| | - Yunge Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Xinrong Li
- Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resource Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Yadav P, Singh RP, Hashem A, Abd_Allah EF, Santoyo G, Kumar A, Gupta RK. Enhancing Biocrust Development and Plant Growth through Inoculation of Desiccation-Tolerant Cyanobacteria in Different Textured Soils. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2507. [PMID: 37894165 PMCID: PMC10609203 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in the utilization of cyanobacteria for the purpose of land rehabilitation via enhancements in soil fertility, prevent erosion, and counter desertification. This study evaluated the ability of Nostoc calcicola BOT1, Scytonema sp. BOT2, and their consortia to form biocrusts on the substrate of coarse sand, fine sand, and loamy soil. A nutrient- and water-deficient substrate was inoculated with cyanobacteria to facilitate biocrust formation and evaluate their impact on agriculture. Cyanobacteria inoculation resulted in significant improvements in soil fertility, especially in coarse and fine sand, which initially had the lowest fertility. The findings of this investigation underscore that the consortium of cyanobacteria exhibited greater efficacy than individual strains in enhancing soil fertility and stimulating plant growth. The loamy soil treated with the consortium had the highest plant growth across all soil types, in contrast to the individual strains. The consortium of cyanobacteria showed promising results in promoting biocrust formation and fostering rice seedling growth in fine sand. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the potential utility of cyanobacterial consortia as a valuable tool for the rehabilitation of degraded land. Furthermore, the results indicate that cyanobacterial species can persist in soil environments even following prolonged periods of desiccation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Yadav
- Laboratory of Algal Research, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; (P.Y.); (R.P.S.)
| | - Rahul Prasad Singh
- Laboratory of Algal Research, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; (P.Y.); (R.P.S.)
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.)
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (E.F.A.)
| | - Gustavo Santoyo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (G.S.)
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida 201313, India
| | - Rajan Kumar Gupta
- Laboratory of Algal Research, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; (P.Y.); (R.P.S.)
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Baldauf S, Cantón Y, Tietjen B. Biocrusts intensify water redistribution and improve water availability to dryland vegetation: insights from a spatially-explicit ecohydrological model. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1179291. [PMID: 37448577 PMCID: PMC10337590 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1179291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Biocrusts are ecosystem engineers in drylands and structure the landscape through their ecohydrological effects. They regulate soil infiltration and evaporation but also surface water redistribution, providing important resources for vascular vegetation. Spatially-explicit ecohydrological models are useful tools to explore such ecohydrological mechanisms, but biocrusts have rarely been included in them. We contribute to closing this gap and assess how biocrusts shape spatio-temporal water fluxes and availability in a dryland landscape and how landscape hydrology is affected by climate-change induced shifts in the biocrust community. We extended the spatially-explicit, process-based ecohydrological dryland model EcoHyD by a biocrust layer which modifies water in- and outputs from the soil and affects surface runoff. The model was parameterized for a dryland hillslope in South-East Spain using field and literature data. We assessed the effect of biocrusts on landscape-scale soil moisture distribution, plant-available water and the hydrological processes behind it. To quantify the biocrust effects, we ran the model with and without biocrusts for a wet and dry year. Finally, we compared the effect of incipient and well-developed cyanobacteria- and lichen biocrusts on surface hydrology to evaluate possible paths forward if biocrust communities change due to climate change. Our model reproduced the runoff source-sink patterns typical of the landscape. The spatial differentiation of soil moisture in deeper layers matched the observed distribution of vascular vegetation. Biocrusts in the model led to higher water availability overall and in vegetated areas of the landscape and that this positive effect in part also held for a dry year. Compared to bare soil and incipient biocrusts, well-developed biocrusts protected the soil from evaporation thus preserving soil moisture despite lower infiltration while at the same time redistributing water toward downhill vegetation. Biocrust cover is vital for water redistribution and plant-available water but potential changes of biocrust composition and cover can reduce their ability of being a water source and sustaining dryland vegetation. The process-based model used in this study is a promising tool to further quantify and assess long-term scenarios of climate change and how it affects ecohydrological feedbacks that shape and stabilize dryland landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selina Baldauf
- Institute of Biology, Theoretical Ecology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yolanda Cantón
- Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
- Research Centre for Scientific Collections from the University of Almería (CECOUAL), Almería, Spain
| | - Britta Tietjen
- Institute of Biology, Theoretical Ecology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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12
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Hansen FA, James DK, Anderson JP, Meredith CS, Dominguez AJ, Pombubpa N, Stajich JE, Romero-Olivares AL, Salley SW, Pietrasiak N. Landscape characteristics shape surface soil microbiomes in the Chihuahuan Desert. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1135800. [PMID: 37350785 PMCID: PMC10282155 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1135800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Soil microbial communities, including biological soil crust microbiomes, play key roles in water, carbon and nitrogen cycling, biological weathering, and other nutrient releasing processes of desert ecosystems. However, our knowledge of microbial distribution patterns and ecological drivers is still poor, especially so for the Chihuahuan Desert. Methods This project investigated the effects of trampling disturbance on surface soil microbiomes, explored community composition and structure, and related patterns to abiotic and biotic landscape characteristics within the Chihuahuan Desert biome. Composite soil samples were collected in disturbed and undisturbed areas of 15 long-term ecological research plots in the Jornada Basin, New Mexico. Microbial diversity of cross-domain microbial groups (total Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Archaea, and Fungi) was obtained via DNA amplicon metabarcode sequencing. Sequence data were related to landscape characteristics including vegetation type, landforms, ecological site and state as well as soil properties including gravel content, soil texture, pH, and electrical conductivity. Results Filamentous Cyanobacteria dominated the photoautotrophic community while Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria dominated among the heterotrophic bacteria. Thaumarchaeota were the most abundant Archaea and drought adapted taxa in Dothideomycetes and Agaricomycetes were most abundant fungi in the soil surface microbiomes. Apart from richness within Archaea (p = 0.0124), disturbed samples did not differ from undisturbed samples with respect to alpha diversity and community composition (p ≥ 0.05), possibly due to a lack of frequent or impactful disturbance. Vegetation type and landform showed differences in richness of Bacteria, Archaea, and Cyanobacteria but not in Fungi. Richness lacked strong relationships with soil variables. Landscape features including parent material, vegetation type, landform type, and ecological sites and states, exhibited stronger influence on relative abundances and microbial community composition than on alpha diversity, especially for Cyanobacteria and Fungi. Soil texture, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, lichen cover, and perennial plant biomass correlated strongly with microbial community gradients detected in NMDS ordinations. Discussion Our study provides first comprehensive insights into the relationships between landscape characteristics, associated soil properties, and cross-domain soil microbiomes in the Chihuahuan Desert. Our findings will inform land management and restoration efforts and aid in the understanding of processes such as desertification and state transitioning, which represent urgent ecological and economical challenges in drylands around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick A. Hansen
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Darren K. James
- Jornada Experimental Range Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - John P. Anderson
- Jornada Experimental Range Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | | | - Andrew J. Dominguez
- Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | | | - Shawn W. Salley
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Nicole Pietrasiak
- Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
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13
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Fajana HO, Rozka T, Jegede O, Stewart K, Siciliano SD. More than just a substrate for mites: Moss-dominated biological soil crust protected population of the oribatid mite, Oppia nitens against cadmium toxicity in soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159553. [PMID: 36270374 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Metal-impacted sites often need aggressive ecorestoration strategies to restore a functional plant-soil system. The use of biological soil crusts for soil stabilization, moisture retention and C and N input in disturbed and contaminated soils is becoming a more common ecorestoration practice. Biological soil crusts comprise cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens, and bryophytes (mostly moss). Moss-dominated BSCs provide significant N mineralization rate in most terrestrial ecosystems. Oribatid mites or moss mites dominate moss-dominated BSCs and provide essential ecosystem services such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. We hypothesized that moss-dominated BSCs would create a high-quality habitat niche for O. nitens to resist Cd-induced toxicity. Adult mites were exposed to Cd for 28 days in soil with or without BSCs that were aged for eight months. Cadmium toxicity to mites in soil without BSCs was 1.7 and 5.4times greater than in soil with BSCs, respectively for the mites reproduction and instantaneous population growth rate (PGRi). The moss-dominated BSC did not reduce Cd bioavailability in the mites but increased the mite's resilience to Cd toxicity, likely mediated by the trophic transfer of calcium from the BSC to the mites. Our work identifies a second mechanistic avenue by which BSCs are useful for ecorestoration, i.e., the improvement of soil invertebrate physiology to resist metal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamzat O Fajana
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada.
| | - Tara Rozka
- Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Olukayode Jegede
- Soil Physics and Land Management, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Katherine Stewart
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Steven D Siciliano
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
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14
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Roncero-Ramos B, Román JR, Acién G, Cantón Y. Towards large scale biocrust restoration: Producing an efficient and low-cost inoculum of N-fixing cyanobacteria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157704. [PMID: 35908695 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dryland soil degradation is increasing due to global change and traditional restoration methods are not successful due to water scarcity. Thus, an alternative technology based on inoculating biocrust-forming cyanobacteria on degraded soils has emerged. Biocrusts are communities of mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria or fungi that colonize soil surface forming a stable and fertile layer. Previous studies have shown the benefits of inoculating cyanobacteria to restore soils at a small scale. However, to face field restoration projects, it is necessary to produce high quantities of biomass at an affordable cost. In this work, we analyze if the previously tested cyanobacteria Scytonema hyalinum, Tolypothrix distorta (heterocystous strains) and Trichocoleus desertorum (a bundle-forming one) can be produced with agricultural fertilizers. Different culture media were used: two containing pure chemicals (BG11 and BG110, this N-free medium was used just for heterocystous strains) and two containing fertilizers (BG11-F and MM-F). The performance of the cultures was monitored by measuring the biomass concentration and photosynthetic stress. Afterwards, we analyzed their capacity to induce biocrusts and improve soil properties by inoculating the biomass on a mine substrate indoors and measuring, three months later, the albedo, chlorophyll a and organic carbon content. Results show that the bundle-forming cyanobacterium was unable to grow in the media tested, whereas both heterocystous cyanobacteria grew in all of them and induced the formation of biocrusts improving the organic carbon substrate content. The best results for S. hyalinum were found using the MM-F medium, and for T. distorta using a medium containing pure chemicals (BG11). However, results were also positive when using a medium containing fertilizers (BG11-F). Thus, agricultural fertilizers can be used to undertake the production of heterocystous cyanobacteria for large scale restoration in drylands. On the other hand, more research is needed to find sustainable techniques to produce biomass of bundle-forming cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Roncero-Ramos
- Department of Life Sciences, InBios-Center for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Belgium; Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain.
| | - José Raúl Román
- Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almería, Spain
| | - Yolanda Cantón
- Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain; Research Centre for Scientific Collections from the University of Almeria (CECOUAL), Spain
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15
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Osborne BB, Bestelmeyer BT, Currier CM, Homyak PM, Throop HL, Young K, Reed SC. The consequences of climate change for dryland biogeochemistry. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:15-20. [PMID: 35706381 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Drylands, which cover > 40% of Earth's terrestrial surface, are dominant drivers of global biogeochemical cycling and home to more than one third of the global human population. Climate projections predict warming, drought frequency and severity, and evaporative demand will increase in drylands at faster rates than global means. As a consequence of extreme temperatures and high biological dependency on limited water availability, drylands are predicted to be exceptionally sensitive to climate change and, indeed, significant climate impacts are already being observed. However, our understanding and ability to forecast climate change effects on dryland biogeochemistry and ecosystem functions lag behind many mesic systems. To improve our capacity to forecast ecosystem change, we propose focusing on the controls and consequences of two key characteristics affecting dryland biogeochemistry: (1) high spatial and temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions and (2) generalized resource scarcity. In addition to climate change, drylands are experiencing accelerating land-use change. Building our understanding of dryland biogeochemistry in both intact and disturbed systems will better equip us to address the interacting effects of climate change and landscape degradation. Responding to these challenges will require a diverse, globally distributed and interdisciplinary community of dryland experts united towards better understanding these vast and important ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke B Osborne
- Southwest Biological Science Center, US Geological Survey, Moab, UT, 84532, USA
| | - Brandon T Bestelmeyer
- Jornada Experimental Range, US Department of Agriculture, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA
| | - Courtney M Currier
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Peter M Homyak
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Heather L Throop
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Kristina Young
- Department of Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, Utah State University, Moab, UT, 84532, USA
| | - Sasha C Reed
- Southwest Biological Science Center, US Geological Survey, Moab, UT, 84532, USA
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16
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Oliveira MF, Maciel-Silva AS. Biological soil crusts and how they might colonize other worlds: insights from these Brazilian ecosystem engineers. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4362-4379. [PMID: 35522077 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
When bryophytes, lichens, eukaryotic algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, and fungi live interacting intimately with the most superficial particles of the soil, they form a complex community of organisms called the biological soil crust (BSC or biocrust). These biocrusts occur predominantly in drylands, where they provide important ecological services such as soil aggregation, moisture retention, and nitrogen fixation. Unfortunately, many BSC communities remain poorly explored, especially in the tropics. This review summarizes studies about BSCs in Brazil, a tropical megadiverse country, and shows the importance of ecological, physiological, and taxonomic knowledge of biocrusts. We also compare Brazilian BSC communities with others around the world, describe why BSCs can be considered ecosystem engineers, and propose their use in the colonization of other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Fernandes Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratório de Sistemática Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Adaíses Simone Maciel-Silva
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratório de Sistemática Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
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17
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Hnatowich IG, Lamb EG, Stewart KJ. Vegetative growth and belowground expansion from transplanted
low‐Arctic
tundra turfs. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian G. Hnatowich
- Department of Soil Science University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Canada
| | - Eric G. Lamb
- Department of Plant Sciences University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Canada
| | - Katherine J. Stewart
- Department of Soil Science University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Canada
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18
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Maggioli L, Rodríguez-Caballero E, Cantón Y, Rodríguez-Lozano B, Chamizo S. Design Optimization of Biocrust-Plant Spatial Configuration for Dry Ecosystem Restoration Using Water Redistribution and Erosion Models. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.765148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Land degradation is one of the main threats to dryland sustainability in the next decades, hence restoration of the degraded land from drylands is an urgent need to maintain ecosystem functionality and their ability to provide ecosystem services. To achieve this goal, restoration practices should pursue the recovery of the main ground components, arranged in an optimal spatial configuration, to mimic undisturbed natural conditions. Drylands function as complex ecohydrologically coupled systems in which interplant source areas, frequently covered by biocrusts, act as sources of runoff and nutrients to adjacent vegetation, which act as sinks for these resources. Thus, one way to increase dryland restoration success is through an optimal spatial configuration of biocrusts and plants that maximizes an efficient use of the limited resources within the system. In this study, we selected a degraded slope from a limestone quarry located in Almería province (SE Spain) and modeled how active restoration of the biocrust through soil inoculation with cyanobacteria and its combination with different spatial configurations of vegetation affected runoff redistribution and erosion. For that, we applied the spatially distributed Limburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM) which was able to predict the erosion measured on the slope during the study period with low error (RMSE = 17.8%). Modeling results showed that the introduction of vegetation on the degraded slope reduced runoff between 2 and 24% and erosion between 4 and 17% for the scenario with plants compared to the one without restoration management. Of all the vegetation spatial configurations tested, the one that provided better results was the scenario in which plants were located in the areas of higher water accumulation (higher topographic wetness index). Moreover, we found that active biocrust restoration by cyanobacteria inoculation significantly reduced erosion by 70–90%, especially during the first stages of plant development, while maintaining water supply to vegetation. These findings highlight the potential of water redistribution and erosion simulation models to identify the most optimal spatial configuration of ground covers that maximizes water and nutrient supply to vegetation, while minimizes water, sediment, and nutrient losses by erosion, thus serving as an efficient tool to plan restoration actions in drylands.
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19
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Berdugo M, Vidiella B, Solé RV, Maestre FT. Ecological mechanisms underlying aridity thresholds in global drylands. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Berdugo
- ICREA‐Complex Systems Lab UPF‐PRBB Barcelona Spain
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva CSIC‐UPF Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Integrative Biology Department of Environment Systems Science ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Blai Vidiella
- ICREA‐Complex Systems Lab UPF‐PRBB Barcelona Spain
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva CSIC‐UPF Barcelona Spain
| | - Ricard V. Solé
- ICREA‐Complex Systems Lab UPF‐PRBB Barcelona Spain
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva CSIC‐UPF Barcelona Spain
- Santa Fe Institute Santa Fe NM USA
| | - Fernando T. Maestre
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramon Margalef” Universidad de Alicante Alicante Spain
- Departamento de Ecología Universidad de Alicante Alicante Spain
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20
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Rowe HI, Sprague TA, Ball B, Langenfeld D, Rivera L. Restoring closed trails in the Sonoran Desert: interactions of seed timing, seed source, and ripping. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Helen I. Rowe
- Parsons Field Institute McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 7729 East Greenway Road, Suite 100 Scottsdale AZ 85260 U.S.A
- School of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
| | - Tiffany A. Sprague
- Parsons Field Institute McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 7729 East Greenway Road, Suite 100 Scottsdale AZ 85260 U.S.A
| | - Becky Ball
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences Arizona State University at the West Campus 4701 West Thunderbird Road Glendale AZ 85306 U.S.A
| | - Debbie Langenfeld
- Citizen Science Program McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 7729 East Greenway Road, Suite 100 Scottsdale AZ 85260 U.S.A
| | - Lisa Rivera
- Citizen Science Program McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 7729 East Greenway Road, Suite 100 Scottsdale AZ 85260 U.S.A
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21
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Veste M, Felde VJMNL, Warren SD, Pietrasiak N. Editorial: Ecological Development and Functioning of Biological Soil Crusts After Natural and Human Disturbances. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.713584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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22
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Bowker MA, Rengifo‐Faiffer MC, Antoninka AJ, Grover HS, Coe KK, Fisher K, Mishler BD, Oliver M, Stark LR. Community composition influences ecosystem resistance and production more than species richness or intraspecific diversity. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kirsten Fisher
- Dept of Biological Sciences, California State Univ. Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Brent D. Mishler
- Dept of Integrative Biology, Univ. of California Berkeley CA USA
| | - Mel Oliver
- Plant Sciences, Univ. of Missouri Columbia MO USA
| | - Lloyd R. Stark
- School of Life Sciences, Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas NV USA
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Liu X, Zhou P, Li X, Zhang D. Propagation of desert moss Syntrichia caninervis in peat pellet: a method for rapidly obtaining large numbers of cloned gametophytes. PLANT METHODS 2021; 17:42. [PMID: 33882971 PMCID: PMC8059278 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-021-00740-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syntrichia caninervis is a typical desiccation tolerant moss that is a dominant species forming biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert. This study investigated the effect of different explants on regeneration potential by propagating them on peat pellet. RESULT Juvenile and green leaves can regenerate secondary protonema within one week and shoots in one-half month in peat pellet. Rhizoids have a great ability to regenerate, and similar to leaf regeneration, secondary protonema is the dominant type of regenerant. The process of stem regeneration is similar to that of whole gametophytes. Stems are the most important integral body part during propagation. The whole gametophyte is the best materials for rapidly propagating gametophyte on peat pellet. CONCLUSION This article improves the state of our current knowledge of desiccation tolerant moss cultivation, highlighting efforts to effectively obtain a large number of gametophytes through different explant parts. This work provides a useful resource for the study of S. caninervis as well as biocrust restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Instistute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Instistute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Xiaoshuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Instistute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
- Turpan Eremophytes Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Turpan, 838008 China
| | - Daoyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Instistute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
- Turpan Eremophytes Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Turpan, 838008 China
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Sommer V, Mikhailyuk T, Glaser K, Karsten U. Uncovering Unique Green Algae and Cyanobacteria Isolated from Biocrusts in Highly Saline Potash Tailing Pile Habitats, Using an Integrative Approach. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1667. [PMID: 33121104 PMCID: PMC7692164 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Potash tailing piles caused by fertilizer production shape their surroundings because of the associated salt impact. A previous study in these environments addressed the functional community "biocrust" comprising various micro- and macro-organisms inhabiting the soil surface. In that previous study, biocrust microalgae and cyanobacteria were isolated and morphologically identified amongst an ecological discussion. However, morphological species identification maybe is difficult because of phenotypic plasticity, which might lead to misidentifications. The present study revisited the earlier species list using an integrative approach, including molecular methods. Seventy-six strains were sequenced using the markers small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Phylogenetic analyses confirmed some morphologically identified species. However, several other strains could only be identified at the genus level. This indicates a high proportion of possibly unknown taxa, underlined by the low congruence of the previous morphological identifications to our results. In general, the integrative approach resulted in more precise species identifications and should be considered as an extension of the previous morphological species list. The majority of taxa found were common in saline habitats, whereas some were more likely to occur in nonsaline environments. Consequently, biocrusts in saline environments of potash tailing piles contain unique microalgae and cyanobacteria that will possibly reveal several new taxa in more detailed future studies and, hence, provide new data on the biodiversity, as well as new candidates for applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Sommer
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
- upi UmweltProjekt Ingenieursgesellschaft mbH, 39576 Stendal, Germany
| | - Tatiana Mikhailyuk
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Karin Glaser
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Institute for Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; (V.S.); (K.G.)
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