The Effect of Biological Soil Crusts on Throughput of Rainwater and N into Lake Michigan Sand Dune Soils

Biological soil crusts composed of cyanobacteria, green algae, bryophytes, and lichens colonize soils in arid and semiarid ecosystems worldwide and are responsible for significant N input to the soils of these ecosystems. Soil crusts also colonize active sand dunes in more humid regions, but studies of structure and function of such sand dune crusts are lacking. We identified the cyanobacterial, algal, and bryophytic constituents and N production and leachates of biological soil crusts that colonize beach dunes at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore along southern Lake Michigan in Indiana, USA. To determine the role of these crusts in this system, we conducted a greenhouse experiment in which intact soil cores with biological crusts were subjected to artificial rainfall over a full growing season. The volume and N content of leachate from the cores were quantified in relation to degree of crust development, taxonomic composition, rainfall volume and intensity, light intensity, and the presence of plant litter. Net N throughput significantly exceeded N inputs to cores in rainwater. Net N outputs from crusts to subsurface soil ranged from 0. 01 to 0.19 g NH ₄ ⁺ -N m⁻² yr⁻¹ and 0.01 to 0.61 g NO ₃ ^– N m⁻² yr⁻¹. Thus, total inorganic N inputs associated with biological soil crusts ranged from 0.02 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ to 0.8 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹. High volume (≥2 cm) rainfall resulted in more N leaching than low volume events, and plant litter added over the surface of crusted soil cores significantly increased the amount of N in leachate. Exploratory path analysis revealed direct and indirect linkages among environmental factors, crust development, and crust composition in regulating the throughput of H₂O and N from these intact soil cores. Biological soil crusts at this site, combined with other properties of the soil surface, substantially increase N inputs to this water- and nutrient-limited sand dune ecosystem.     

毛乌素沙地南缘沙丘生物结皮对凝结水形成和蒸发的影响

在水分极度匮乏的荒漠生态系统,凝结水是除降雨之外最重要的水分来源之一,它对荒漠生态系统结构、功能和过程的维持产生重要的影响。为探明半干旱沙区生物结皮表面的凝结水形成和蒸发特征,采用自制的微型蒸渗计(直径7 cm、高5 cm的PVC管)实验观测了不同类型地表(裸沙、浅灰色藻类结皮、黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮)对凝结水形成和蒸发的影响。结果表明:(1)观测期间共有20次凝结水形成记录,除降雨天气外,几乎每天都能观测到水分凝结现象;(2)不同类型地表凝结水总量依次为(1.998±0.075),(2.326±0.083),(2.790±0.058)和(3.416±0.068) mm,生物结皮表面的凝结水总量显著大于裸沙(P < 0.05);随生物结皮的发育,不同类型生物结皮表面的凝结水总量呈增加的趋势,凝结水总量之间差异显著(P < 0.05);观测期间不同类型地表日平均凝结水量依次为(0.100±0.003),(0.116±0.004),(0.140±0.002)和(0.171± 0.003) mm,不同类型地表日平均凝结水量之间差异极显著(P < 0.01);(3)凝结水形成过程的观测结果显示,凝结水19:00开始形成,23:00-凌晨1:00形成不明显,1:00-7:00继续形成,除浅灰色藻类结皮外,太阳升出后在黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮表面继续形成少量的凝结水;凝结水7:30开始蒸发,10:30到11:00之间结束蒸发,凝结水在裸沙和浅灰色藻类结皮中的保持时间显著大于黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮中的保持时间(P < 0.05);(4)凝结水的形成受大气温度、地表温度、空气相对湿度和大气地表温度差等气象因素的影响,但其形成过程不与某一个气象因素呈简单的线性关系。     

Estimation of growth and exopolysaccharide production by two soil cyanobacteria,Scytonema tolypothrichoides and Tolypothrix bouteillei as determined by cultivation in irradiance and temperature crossed gradients

Two filamentous cyanobacteria of the genera Scytonema and Tolypothrix were reported to be effective for stabilizing soil in arid areas due to the production of significant amounts of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). These EPS may also have applications in the biotechnology industry. Therefore, two cyanobacterial species, Scytonema tolypothrichoides and Tolypothrix bouteillei were examined using crossed gradients of temperature (8–40°C) and irradiance (3–21 W m^?2) to identify their temperature and irradiance optima for maximum biomass and EPS production. According to their reported temperature requirements, both strains were considered mesophilic. The optimum growth range of temperature in S. tolypothrichoides (27 to 34°C) was higher than T. bouteillei (22–32°C). The optimum irradiance range for growth of S. tolypothrichoides (9–13 W m^?2) was slightly lower than T. bouteillei (7–18 W m^?2). Maximum EPS production by S. tolypothrichoides occurred at similar temperatures (28–34°C) as T. bouteillei (27–34°C), both slightly higher than for maximum growth. The optimum irradiance range for EPS production was comparable to that for growth in S. tolypotrichoides (8–13 W m^?2), and slightly lower in T. bouteillei (7–17 W m^?2). The Redundancy Analysis confirmed that temperature was the most important controlling factor and protocols for field applications or for mass cultivation can now be developed.     

亚热带苔藓结皮对土壤-微生物-胞外酶化学计量特征的影响

生物结皮的形成和发育显著影响土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)循环及其化学计量特征,土壤微生物如何适应环境资源的化学计量变化仍不明确。本研究以三峡库区苔藓结皮为对象,分析结皮盖度(0、1%～20%、20%～40%、40%～60%、60%～80%和80%～100%)对土壤理化性质(0～5和5～10 cm土层)、微生物生物量和胞外酶活性[(β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、酸性磷酸酶(AP)]的影响,探索土壤-微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P化学计量特征间的协变性。结果表明: 生物结皮发育显著提高了土壤黏粒、水稳性团聚体和土壤C、N、P含量,显著降低了土壤容重和砂粒含量;微生物生物量C、N、P和胞外酶活性均随结皮盖度的增大而显著增加;土层深度对土壤理化性质及C∶N∶P均无显著影响,但显著影响微生物生物量、胞外酶活性及BG∶AP和NAG∶AP。相关分析显示,土壤C、N、P含量与微生物生物量和胞外酶活性呈显著正相关,与BG∶NAG呈显著负相关,与NAG∶AP呈显著正相关,但与微生物生物量C∶N∶P无显著相关性;土壤-微生物、微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P相关性均不显著,BG∶NAG∶AP随着微生物与土壤间C∶N∶P化学计量不平衡性的增加而逐渐降低。表明微生物养分代谢同时受N和P的限制,且P的限制较强烈,微生物可以通过调整自身生物量以及胞外酶C∶N∶P适应生物结皮发育驱动的土壤化学计量变化,从而维持内稳态。     

宁夏河东沙地生物土壤结皮对土壤性质及入渗过程的影响

为了揭示沙漠化治理过程中生物土壤结皮覆盖对土壤入渗过程的影响规律,以宁夏河东沙地人工沙漠治理区4种典型地表覆盖类型：裸沙(BS)、藻类结皮(AC)、藓类结皮(MC)、草本-藓类结皮(H-MC)为研究对象,基于野外双环入渗试验与室内模拟,分析了3种生物土壤结皮覆盖下土壤性质的变化与土壤入渗特征。结果表明：(1)与BS相比,3种结皮覆盖下表层土壤砂粒含量减少2.0%-5.1%,粉粒含量增加3.6%-5.8%,有机质含量增加了5-6倍,AC和MC覆盖下土壤总孔隙度与饱和含水量降低,而H-MC与之相反;(2)平均入渗速率表现为BS>H-MC>AC>MC,1h累计入渗量表现为H-MC>BS>AC>MC,与BS相比,AC、MC和H-MC的初渗速率依次减少了14.3%、37.2%、11.8%,AC、MC的稳渗速率分别降低了14.4%和18.3%,H-MC的稳渗速率增加了4.5%;(3)三种模型中,Kostiakov模型最适用于模拟生物土壤结皮覆盖下土壤水分入渗过程。综上,研究区内不同发育程度生物土壤结皮改变了下层土壤的性质以及土壤的入渗特征,MC与AC阻碍水分入渗,H-MC促进水分入渗。     

干旱过程中荒漠生物土壤结皮-土壤系统的硝化作用对温度和湿度的响应——以沙坡头地区为例

以腾格里沙漠东南缘天然植被区由藻类、藓类结皮所覆盖的土壤和流沙为研究对象,采用原状土室内培养法,在15和20 ℃两个温度、10%和25%两个湿度下连续培养20 d,分别在培养后的第1、2、5、8、12、20天连续测定土壤样品中的NO₃^--N含量,探讨不同温度和湿度条件下荒漠土壤的净硝化速率在干旱过程中的变化规律.结果表明： 藓类结皮的NO₃^--N含量（2.29 mg·kg^-1）高于藻类结皮（1.84 mg·kg^-1）和流沙（1.59 mg·kg^-1）,3种类型的土壤净硝化速率介于-3.47～2.97 mg·kg^-1·d^-1之间.10%湿度条件下,藻类和藓类结皮在25 ℃下的净硝化速率比15 ℃分别减少75.1%和0.7%;25%湿度条件下,分别减少99.1%和21.3%;15 ℃、10%湿度条件下藻类和藓类结皮的净硝化速率比25 ℃、25%湿度条件下增加193.4%和107.3%.表明在全球变暖背景下,无论土壤湿度增加或减少,干旱过程中的荒漠生物土壤结皮-土壤系统净硝化速率在一定程度上都会受到抑制.     

The effect of lichen‐dominated biological soil crusts on growth and physiological characteristics of three plant species in a temperate desert of northwest China

Biocrusts (biological soil crusts) cover open spaces between vascular plants in most arid and semi‐arid areas. Information on effects of biocrusts on seedling growth is controversial, and there is little information on their effects on plant growth and physiology. We examined impacts of biocrusts on growth and physiological characteristics of three habitat‐typical plants, Erodium oxyrhynchum, Alyssum linifolium and Hyalea pulchella, growing in the Gurbantunggut Desert, northwest China. The influence of biocrusts on plant biomass, leaf area, leaf relative water content, photosynthesis, maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), chlorophyll, osmotic solutes (soluble sugars, protein, proline) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase) was investigated on sites with or without biocrust cover. Biomass, leaf area, leaf water content, photosynthesis, F_v/F_m and chlorophyll content in crusted soils were higher than in uncrusted soils during early growth and lower later in the growth period. Soluble sugars, proline and antioxidant enzyme activity were always higher in crusted than in uncrusted soils, while soluble protein content was always lower. These findings indicate that biocrusts have different effects on these three ephemeral species during growth in this desert, primarily via effects on soil moisture, and possibly on soil nutrients. The influence of biocrusts changes during plant development: in early plant growth, biocrusts had either positive or no effect on growth and physiological parameters. However, biocrusts tended to negatively influence plants during later growth. Our results provide insights to explain why previous studies have found different effects of biocrusts on vascular plant growth.     

Impacts of freeze-thaw processes on antioxidant activities and osmolyte contents of Syntrichia caninervis under different desert microhabitats

 齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)作为典型的耐旱藓类, 广泛分布于世界干旱和半干旱荒漠地区, 是古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮中的优势藓类植物。该沙漠冬季具有稳定的降雪, 初春的积雪融化为植物的生长提供了良好的水热条件。荒漠藓类植物叶片仅具一层细胞, 对外界环境的变化十分敏感, 有关荒漠藓类植物在冬季和早春地表冻融交替过程中如何适应环境剧烈变化的研究鲜见报道。该研究探讨了生长于3种不同微生境(活灌丛、枯死灌丛和裸露地)下的齿肋赤藓, 经由冬季低温冻结到早春融雪复水再到春季中旬自然干燥过程中的生理生化变化特征。结果表明: 不同冻融期、微生境及二者的交互作用能够显著影响齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物质(游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性(过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性)。冬季低温冻结期的极端低温和春季中旬的干燥环境使得齿肋赤藓可溶性糖和MDA含量, 以及3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于早春融雪期, 可溶性蛋白含量显著低于融雪期。同时, 在融雪期灌丛遮阴所形成的“冷岛效应”使得生长于灌丛下的齿肋赤藓植株可溶性糖和MDA含量显著高于枯死灌丛和裸露地。但灌丛的存在也为春季中旬干旱无雨期齿肋赤藓提供了一个相对良好(含水量高)的生活环境, 其下齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物含量和抗氧化酶活性均显著低于其他两个生境。在整个冻融过程中裸露地齿肋赤藓的3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于灌丛下, 这可能是由于生活于裸露地的苔藓有更强的耐胁迫特性。     

The impact of mechanical impedance on the emergence of carrot and onion seedlings

The development of a method using wax layers to simulate the effect of strong soil crusts on seedling emergence is described. Wax layers of different strengths were prepared by melting together white soft paraffin and paraffin wax in different proportions. The wax discs were placed above seeds planted in wet, but well-aerated sand in controlled environments. The effect of adding charcoal to the wax discs to prevent transmission of light was also tested. When wax layer penetrometer pressure was 0.2–0.25 MPa, light transmission greatly decreased the final emergence of carrot, but not onion seedlings. Penetrometer pressures above 0.25 MPa greatly decreased emergence through black wax layers in both carrot and onion. The presence of 2–4 mm stones immediately below wax layers (to simulate aggregates) decreased the emergence of onion shoots through wax layers with penetrometer pressures of 0.25 MPa and above. The emergence of carrot and onion seedlings from wax layers was compared to emergence in the field from different soil types and aggregate sizes. In both laboratory and field experiments, carrot gave better emergence than onion when emergence was relatively poor. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that mechanical impedance is a major factor in poor crop emergence in temperate conditions.