Crustivorous macro-arthropods regulate the microtopography and carbon dynamics of biological soil crusts

verfasst von: Nevo Sagi, Amir Sagy, Vincent J.M.N.L. Felde, Dror Hawlena
Abstract: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play key roles in dryland ecosystem processes by mediating soil surface conditions. How consumption by macro-arthropods affects biocrust surface roughness and carbon cycling remains largely unknown. In two separate experiments, we addressed this knowledge gap by exposing biocrusts to varying levels of desert isopod crustivory (i.e. grazing intensity), and quantifying the consequences for microtopography, CO₂ efflux and carbon fixation. Biocrust surface roughness peaked under intermediate crustivory pressure, implying that varying levels of crustivory may have opposing consequences for ecosystem processes such as carbon cycling, water infiltration, runoff generation and soil erosion. However, crustivory had a monotonic negative effect on biocrust carbon cycling. Biocrust CO₂ efflux decreased with increasing crustivory, but recovered after several wetting events. Crustivory had a negative effect on biocrust C fixation, but only after the CO₂ efflux recovered to pre-crustivory levels. Our findings suggest that macro-crustivores may play a pivotal role in regulating biocrust functioning, introducing a whole new line of trophic research that may transform our understanding of ecosystems dynamics in drylands.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Bodenkunde
Externe Organisation(en): Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI)
University of Texas at Austin
Geological Survey of Israel
Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Typ: Artikel
Journal: GEODERMA
Band: 454
ISSN: 0016-7061
Publikationsdatum: 02.2025
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Bodenkunde
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117193 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{d43e688968454a05a06075713e0a3d7b,
title = "Crustivorous macro-arthropods regulate the microtopography and carbon dynamics of biological soil crusts",
abstract = "Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play key roles in dryland ecosystem processes by mediating soil surface conditions. How consumption by macro-arthropods affects biocrust surface roughness and carbon cycling remains largely unknown. In two separate experiments, we addressed this knowledge gap by exposing biocrusts to varying levels of desert isopod crustivory (i.e. grazing intensity), and quantifying the consequences for microtopography, CO2 efflux and carbon fixation. Biocrust surface roughness peaked under intermediate crustivory pressure, implying that varying levels of crustivory may have opposing consequences for ecosystem processes such as carbon cycling, water infiltration, runoff generation and soil erosion. However, crustivory had a monotonic negative effect on biocrust carbon cycling. Biocrust CO2 efflux decreased with increasing crustivory, but recovered after several wetting events. Crustivory had a negative effect on biocrust C fixation, but only after the CO2 efflux recovered to pre-crustivory levels. Our findings suggest that macro-crustivores may play a pivotal role in regulating biocrust functioning, introducing a whole new line of trophic research that may transform our understanding of ecosystems dynamics in drylands.",
keywords = "Biocrust, Carbon cycle, Dryland, Hydrology, Surface roughness, Trophic interaction",
author = "Nevo Sagi and Amir Sagy and Felde, {Vincent J.M.N.L.} and Dror Hawlena",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s)",
year = "2025",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117193",
language = "English",
volume = "454",
journal = "GEODERMA",
issn = "0016-7061",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}