Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Diversity and Ecology of Biological Crusts

  • Chapter
Progress in Botany

Part of the book series: Progress in Botany ((BOTANY,volume 63))

Abstract

Biological crusts are composed of algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, micro-fungi and lichens, sometimes also mosses. Only in rare cases are all components involved in crust formation, quite often there is only one or two of these groups involved. Biological crusts occur on rock and soil surfaces and on the bark of trees, on leaves, but also on man-made substrates. This review focuses on the two main terrestrial habitats — soil and rock — where biological crusts are predominantly found in semiarid and arid regions or under arid microclimatic conditions in all climatic ecoregions on Earth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anagnostidis K, Economou-Amili A, Roussomoustakaki M (1983) Epilithic and chas-molithic microflora (Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta) from marbles of the Parthenon (Acropolis-Athens, Greece). Nova Hedwigia 38:227–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastos CJP, Albertos B, Bôas SBV (1998) Bryophytes from some Caatinga areas in the state of Bhia (Brazil). Trop Bryol 14:69–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell RA, Sommerfeld MR (1987) Algal biomass and primary production within a temperate zone sandstone. Am J Bot 74:294–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell RA, Athey PV, Sommerfeld MR (1986) Cryptoendolithic algal communities of the Colorado plateau. J Phycol 22:429–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belnap, J (2001) Comparative structure of physical and biological soil crusts. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 177–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Belnap J, Harper KT, Warren SD (1994) Surface disturbance of cryptiobiotic soil crusts: nitrogenase activity, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll degradation. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 8:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belnap J, Büdel B, Lange OL (2001) Biological soil crusts: Characteristics and distribution. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 3–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Beymer RJ, Klopatek JM (1991) Potential contribution of carbon by microphytic crusts in pinyon-juniper woodlands. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 5:187–198

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Broady P (1996) Diversity, distribution and dispersal of Antarctic terrestrial algae. Biodiv Conserv 5: 1307–1335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B (1999) Ecology and diversity of rock inhabiting cyanobacteria in tropical regions. European J Phycol 34:361–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B (2001a) Biological Soil crusts of South America. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 51–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B (2001b) Biological soil crusts of European temperate and mediterranean regions. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 75–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B (2001c) Biological soil crusts of Asia including the Don and Volga region. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 87–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B (2001d) Synopsis: comparative biogeography and ecology of soil crust biota and communities. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 141–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Lange OL (1991) Water status of green and blue-green phycobionts in lichen thalli after hydration by water vapor uptake: do they become turgid? Bot Acta 104:361–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Wessels DCJ (1991) Rock inhabiting blue-green algae/cyanobacteria from hot arid regions. Arch Hydrobiol Suppl 92 (Algol Stud 64): 385–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Lüttge U, Stelzer, R, Huber O, Medina E (1994) Cyanobacteria of rocks and soils in the Orinoco region and in the Guyana highlands, Venezuela. Bot Acta 107:422–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Becker U, Porembski S, Barthlott W (1997a) Cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial lichens from inselbergs of the Ivory Coast, Africa. Bot Acta 110:458–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Karsten U, Garcia-Pichel F (1997b) Ultraviolet-absorbing scytonemin and my-cosporine-like amino acid derivates in exposed, rock inhabiting cyanobacterial lichens. Oecologia 112:165–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Becker U, Follmann G, Sterflinger K (2000a) Algae, fungi, and lichens on Inselbergs. In: Porembski S, Barthlott W (eds) Inselbergs — biotic diversity of isolated outcrops in tropical and temperate regions. Ecological studies 146. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 69–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel B, Schultz M, Lakatos M, Woitke M (2000b) Ökologie lithophytischer Cyanobak-terien und Cyanobakterien-Flechten des Guyana Hochlands und des Orinoco Tieflands (Venezuela). In: Walter H, Breckle S-W, Schweizer B, Arndt U (eds) Ergebnisse weltweiter ökologischer Forschungen. Beiträge des 1. Symposiums der AFW Schimper-Stiftung von H und E Walter, pp 209–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron RE, Blank GB (1966) Desert algae: soil crusts and diaphanous substrata as algal habitats. JPL Tech Rep Jet Propulsion Lab, California Inst Tech Pasadena N 32–971

    Google Scholar 

  • Castenholz RW, Garcia-Pichel F (2000) Cyanobacterial responses to UV-radiation. In: Whitton BA, Potts W (eds) The ecology of cyanobacteria. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 591–611

    Google Scholar 

  • Copley J (2000) Ecology goes underground. Nature 406:452–454

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Winder (1990) Ecophysiological strategies of drought-tolerant phototrophic microorganisms in dune soils. Academisch Proefschrift, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Diels L (1914) Die Algen-Vegetation der Südtiroler Dolomitriffe. Ein Beitrag zur Ökologie der Lithophyten. Ber Dtsch Bot Gesellschaft 32:502–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Dor I, Danin A (1996) Cyanobacterial desert crusts in the Dead Sea Valley, Israel. Algol Stud 83:197–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldridge DJ (2001) Biological soil crusts of Australia. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 119–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldridge DJ, Green RSB (1994) Microbiotic soil crusts: a review of their roles in soil and ecological processes in the rangelands of Australia. Aust J Soil Res 32:389–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eldridge DJ, Koen TB (1998) Cover and floristics of microphytic soil crusts in relation to indices of landscape health. Plant Ecol 137:101–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eldridge DJ, Tozer ME (1996) Distribution and floristics of bryophytes in soil crusts in semi-arid and arid eastern Australia. Aust J Bot 44:223–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans RD, Johansen JR (1999) Microbiotic crusts and ecosystem processes. Crit Rev Plant Sci 18:183–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freiberg E (1998a) Influence of microclimate on the occurrence of cyanobacteria in the phyllosphere in a premontane rain forest of Costa Rica. Plant Biol 1:244–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freiberg E (1998b) Microclimatic parameters influencing nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere in a Costa Rican premontane rain forest. Oecologia 17:9–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey E, Kürschner H (1991) Lebenstrategien von terrestrischen Bryophyten in der Judäischen Wüste. Bot Acta 104:172–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann EI (1980) Endolithic microbial life in hot and cold deserts. Origins Life 10:223–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann EI, Galun M (1974) Desert algae, lichens and fungi.. In: Brown GW (ed) Desert biology, vol II. Academic Press, London, pp 165–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann EI, Lipkin Y, Ocampo-Paus R (1967) Desert algae of the Negev (Israel). Phy-cologia 6:185–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann EI, Hua M, Ocampo-Friedmann R (1988) Cryptoendolithic lichen and cyano-bacterial communities of the Ross Desert, Antarctica. Polarforschung 58:251–259

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galun M, Garty J (2001) Biological soil crusts of the Middle East. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 95–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Pichel F, Belnap J (1996) Microenvironments and microscale productivity of cyanobacterial desert crusts. J Phycol 32: 774–782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garty J (1989) Influence of epilithic microorganisms on the surface temperature of building walls. Can J Bot 68:1349–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golubic S (1967a) Algenvegetation der Felsen. Eine ökologische Algenstudie im dinarischen Karstgebiet. In: Elster HJ, Ohle W (eds) Die Binnengewässer, vol 23:1–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubic S (1967b) Die Algenvegetation an Sandsteinfelsen Ost-Venezuelas (Cumaná). Int Rev Hydrobiol 52:693–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golubic S, Friedmann EI, Schneider J (1981) The lithobiontic ecological niche, with special reference to microorganisms. J Sediment Petrol 51:475–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Green TGA, Broady P (2001) Biological soil crusts of Antarctica. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 142–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Green TGA, Meyer A, Büdel B, Zellner H, Lange OL (1995) Diel patterns of CO2 exchange for six lichens from a temperate rain forest in New Zealand. Symbiosis 18:251–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn A, Kusserow H (1998) Spatial and temporal distribution of algae in soil crusts in the Sahel of W Africa: preliminary results. Wildenowia 28:227–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Hale ME (1987) Epilithic lichens in the beacon sandstone formation, Victorialand, Antarctica. Lichenologist 19:269–287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hambler DJ (1964) The vegetation of granitic outcrops in western Nigeria. J Ecol 52:573–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen ES (2001) Lichen-rich soil crusts of Arctic Greenland. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 57–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Isichei AO (1980) Nitrogen fixation by blue-green algal soil crusts in Nigerian savanna In: Rosswall T (ed) Nitrogen cycling in West Africa ecosystems. Royal Swedish Acad Sci Stockholm, pp 191–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaag O (1945) Untersuchungen über die Vegetation und Biologie der Algen des nackten Gesteins in den Alpen, im Jura und im schweizerischen Mittelland. Beitr Kryptoga-menflora Schweiz 9:1–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Joubert JJ, Steyn PL, Britz TJ, Wessles DCJ (1982) Chemical composition of some lichen species occurring in the Namib Desert, South West Africa. Dinteria 16:33–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling RF, Piper SC, Heimann M (1996) Global and hemispheric CO2 sinks deduced from changes in atmospheric O2 concentration. Nature 381:218–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kidron G (1995) The impact of microbial crust upon rainfall-runoff-sediment yield relationships on longitudinal dune slopes, Nizzana, western Negev desert, Israel. PhD Thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Komâromy ZP (1976) Soil algal growth types as edaphic adaptations in Hungarian forest and grass steppe ecosystems. Acta Bot Acad Sci Hung 22:373–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Krumbein WE, Jens K (1981) Biogenic rock varnishes of the Negev Desert (Israel), an ecological study of iron and manganese transformation by cyanobacteria and fungi. Oecologia 50:25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL (2001) Photosynthesis of soil-crust biota as dependent on environmental factors. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 217–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Kidron GJ, Büdel B, Meyer A, Kilian E, Abeliovich A (1992) Taxonomic composition and photosynthetic characteristics of the ‘biological soil crusts’ covering sand dunes in the western Negev Desert. Funct Ecol 6:519–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Meyer A, Büdel B (1994a) Net-photosynthesis of a desiccated cyanobacterium without liquid water in high air humidity alone. Experiments with Microcoelus sociatus isolated from a desert soil crust. Funct Ecol 8:52–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Meyer A, Zellner H, Heber U (1994b) Photosynthesis and water relations of lichen soil crusts: field measurements in the coastal fog zone of the Namib Desert. Funct Ecol 8:253–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Belnap J, Reichenberger H, Meyer A (1997) Photosynthesis of green algal soil crust lichens from arid lands in southern Utah, USA: role of water content on light and temperature responses of CO2 exchange. Flora 192:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Belnap J, Reichenberger H (1998) Photosynthesis of the cyanobacterial soil-crust lichen Collema tenax from arid lands in southern Utah, USA: role of water content on light and temperature responses of CO2 exchange. Funct Ecol 12:195–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange OL, Kidron GJ, Büdel B, Meyer A, Kilian E, Abeliovich A (1992) Taxonomic composition and photosynthetic characteristics of the ‘biological soil crusts’ covering sand dunes in the western Negev Desert. Funct Ecol 6:519–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larcher W (1994) Ökophysiologie der Pflanzen. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Lücking R (1992) Zur Verbreitungsökologie foliikoler Flechten in Costa Rica, Zentralamerika. Nova Hedwigia 54:309–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Lücking R, Becker U, Follmann G (1998) Foliikole Flechten aus dem Tai-Nationalpark, Elfenbeinküste (Tropisches Afrika). II. Ökologie und Biogeografie. Herzogia 13:207–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Lüttge U (1997) Cyanobacterial Tintenstrich communities and their ecology. Naturwissenschaften 84:526–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malam Issa O (1998) Role of microbiotic soil crusts in two sahelian ecosystems (fallow lands and tiger bush) of Niger. Micromorphology, physical and biogeochemical properties. Diss, CNRS-Université d’Orleans

    Google Scholar 

  • Malam Issa O, Trichet J, Défarge C, Couté A, Valentin C (1999) Morphology and micro-structure of microbiotic soil crusts on a tiger bush sequence (Niger, Sahel). Catena 37:175–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miszalski Z, Büdel B, Lüttge U (1995) Sensitivity of terrestrial cyanobacteria to light and sulphite stress. Polish J Environ Stud 4:55–59

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore PD (1998) Life in the upper crust. Nature 393:419–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novichkova-Ivanova LN (1980) Soil algae of the phytocoenoses of the Saharan-Gobi desert region. Nauka, Leningrad (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paus SM (1997) Die Erdflechtenvegetation Nordwestdeutschlands und einiger Randgebiete. Vegetationsökologische Untersuchungen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Chemismus ausgewählter Arten. Biblio Lichenol 66:1–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasse R (1999) Experimentelle Untersuchungen an Gefässpflanzenpopulationen auf verschiedenen Geländeoberflächen in einem Sandwüstengebiet. Universitätsverlag Rasch, Osnabrück

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud PA, Lumpkin TA (1988) Mikroalgae of the Lanzhou (China) cryptogamic crust. Arid Soil Res Rehab 2:145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosentreter R, Belnap J (2001) Biological soil crusts of North America. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 31–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Rummrich U, Rummrich M, Lange-Bertalot H (1989) Diatomeen als “Fensteralgen” in der Namib-Wüste und anderen ariden Gebieten von SWA/Namibia. Dinteria 20:23–29

    Google Scholar 

  • San Jose JJ, Bravo CR (1991) CO2 exchange in soil algal crusts occurring in the trachypo-gon savannas of the Orinoco Llanos, Venezuela. Plant Soil 135:233–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarthou C, Thérézien Y, Couté A (1995) Cyanophycées de l’inselberg des Nourages (Guyane francaise). Nova Hedwigia 61:85–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger WH (1997) Biogeochemistry, 2nd edn. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Stal LJ (2000) Cyanobacterial mats and stromatolites. In: Whitton BA, Potts W (eds) The ecology of cyanobacteria. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 61–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Türk R, Gärtner G (2001) Biological soil crusts of the subalpine, alpine and nival areas in the Alps. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 67–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann I, Biidel B (2001a) Biological soil crusts of Africa. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 107–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann I, Biidel B (2001b) Ecological determinants of species composition of biological soil crusts on a landscape scale. In: Lange OL, Belnap J (eds) Biological soil crusts. Ecological studies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 203–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent WF (2000) Cyanobacterial dominance in the polar regions. In: Whitton BA, Potts W (eds) The ecology of cyanobacteria. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 321–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel S (1955) Niedere “Fensterpflanzen”in der südafrikanischen Wüste. Eine ökologische Schilderung. Beitr Biol Pflanz 31:45–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe Y, Martini JEJ, Ohmoto H (2000) Geochemical evidence for terrestrial ecosystems 2.6 billion years ago. Nature 408: 574–578

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weber B, Wessels DCJ, Büdel B (1996) Biology and ecology of cryptoendolithic cyanobacteria of a sandstone plateau in North-Transvaal, South Africa. Algol Stud 83: 565–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber HM (1997) Ein Biofilm auf freiem Fels: Cyanobakterien der Inselberge Brasiliens. Diploma Thesis, Universities of Bonn and Rostock

    Google Scholar 

  • Welwitsch F (1868) The Pedras Negras of Pungo Andongo in Angola. J Travel Nat Hist 1:22–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels DCJ, Büdel B (1989) A rockpool lichen community in Northern Transvaal, South Africa: composition and distribution patterns. Lichenologist 21:259–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessels DCJ, Büdel B (1995) Epilithic and cryptoendolithic cyanobacteria of Clarens sandstone cliffs in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa. Bot Acta 108:220–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels DCJ, Wessels LA, Holzapfel WH (1979) Preliminary report on lichen-feeding Coleoptera occurring on Teloschistes capensis in the Namib desert, South West Africa. Bryologist 82:270–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitton BA, Potts W (eds) (2000) The ecology of cyanobacteria, Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynn-Williams DD (2000) Cyanobacteria in deserts — life at the limit? In: Whitton BA, Potts W (eds) The ecology of cyanobacteria. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 341–366

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Botanik, FB Biologie, Universität Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Prof. Dr. Burkhard Büdel

Authors
  1. Prof. Dr. Burkhard Büdel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bochum, Germany

    K. Esser

  2. Darmstadt, Germany

    U. Lüttge

  3. Bielefeld, Germany

    W. Beyschlag

  4. Jena, Germany

    F. Hellwig

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Büdel, B. (2002). Diversity and Ecology of Biological Crusts. In: Esser, K., Lüttge, U., Beyschlag, W., Hellwig, F. (eds) Progress in Botany. Progress in Botany, vol 63. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56276-1_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56276-1_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-52304-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56276-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation