Editors:
- updated overview of the field following the publication of Volume 150 on
- biocrusts in 2003
- Enhances our understanding of the role of biocrusts as an organizing principle in drylands
- Identifies knowledge gaps and offers ideas for promising new research approaches
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Ecological Studies (ECOLSTUD, volume 226)
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Table of contents (25 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Morphology, Composition, and Distribution of Biological Soil Crusts at Different Scales
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Front Matter
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Functional Roles of Biological Soil Crusts
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Front Matter
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About this book
This volume summarizes our current understanding of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), which are omnipresent in dryland regions. Since they cover the soil surface, they influence, or even control, all surface exchange processes. Being one of the oldest terrestrial communities, biocrusts comprise a high diversity of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens and bryophytes together with uncounted bacteria, and fungi. The authors show that biocrusts are an integral part of dryland ecosystems, stabilizing soils, influencing plant germination and growth, and playing a key role in carbon, nitrogen and water cycling. Initial attempts have been made to use biocrusts as models in ecological theory. On the other hand, biocrusts are endangered by local disruptions and global change, highlighting the need for enhanced recovery methods. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the fascinating field of biocrust research, making it indispensable not only for scientists in this area, but also for land managers, policy makers, and anyone interested in the environment.
Editors and Affiliations
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Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Plank Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
Bettina Weber
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Plant Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Burkhard Büdel
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Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Moab, USA
Jayne Belnap
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands
Editors: Bettina Weber, Burkhard Büdel, Jayne Belnap
Series Title: Ecological Studies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30214-0
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-30212-6Published: 27 May 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-80752-2Published: 30 May 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-30214-0Published: 21 May 2016
Series ISSN: 0070-8356
Series E-ISSN: 2196-971X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: IX, 549
Number of Illustrations: 49 b/w illustrations, 81 illustrations in colour
Topics: Conservation Biology/Ecology, Soil Science & Conservation, Biogeosciences