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Photosynthesis of Soil-Crust Biota as Dependent on Environmental Factors

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Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 150))

Abstract

Limited productivity of vascular plant communities in semiarid and arid regions generally results in low soil organic carbon content. In these situations, crust biota can be the most important autotrophic contributors of fixed carbon, delivering this carbon to the soil ecosystem by leaching and decaying processes. The photosynthetic carbon assimilation of crustal organisms thus plays an important role by contributing to the humus reservoir of the soil, supporting heterotrophic soil life, and supplying nutrients for the phanerogamous vegetation (see Beymer and Klopatek 1991 and Chaps. 19–21).

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Authors
  1. O. L. Lange
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 2290 S. Resource Blvd., Moab, Utah, 84532, USA

    Jayne Belnap

  2. Lehrstuhl für Botanik II, Universität Würzburg Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, 97082, Würzburg, Germany

    Otto L. Lange

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Lange, O.L. (2001). Photosynthesis of Soil-Crust Biota as Dependent on Environmental Factors. In: Belnap, J., Lange, O.L. (eds) Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management. Ecological Studies, vol 150. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56475-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56475-8_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43757-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56475-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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