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Composition and Macrostructure of Biological Soil Crusts

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Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 226))

Abstract

The visible structure (>1 mm) of biocrusts is determined by both biotic and abiotic influences. First, the composing organisms and the various proportions of them have significant influence on the macrostructure of a biocrust. Second, physical parameters, such as climate, and physical and chemical soil properties impact biocrust macrostructure. In this chapter, the difference between abiotic and biotic surface crusting and influences on biocrust structure are discussed. Additionally, we summarize different approaches that were used to classify biocrusts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Claudia Colesie & Burkhard Büdel

  2. Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Giessen, Germany

    Vincent John Martin Noah Linus Felde

Authors
  1. Claudia Colesie
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  2. Vincent John Martin Noah Linus Felde
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  3. Burkhard Büdel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudia Colesie .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Plank Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany

    Bettina Weber

  2. Plant Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Burkhard Büdel

  3. Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Moab, Utah, USA

    Jayne Belnap

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Colesie, C., Felde, V.J.M.N.L., Büdel, B. (2016). Composition and Macrostructure of Biological Soil Crusts. In: Weber, B., Büdel, B., Belnap, J. (eds) Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands. Ecological Studies, vol 226. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30214-0_9

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