The biology of arid soils / editor: Blaire Steven.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Steven, Blaire, editor.

Walter de Gruyter & Co.

Series:

Life in extreme environments (Walter de Gruyter & Co.) ; v. 4.

Life in extreme environments ; 4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Arid soils.

Soil biology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Boston : Walter de Gruyter, [2017]

System Details:

text file

Contents:

1 An Introduction to Arid Soils and Their Biology / Blaire Steven Steven, Blaire 1

1.1 The Definition and Extent of Arid Ecosystems 1

1.2 Characteristics of Arid Soils 2

1.3 Soil Habitats in Arid Regions 2

1.3.1 Refugia Sites Associated with Rocks 3

1.3.2 Shrubs as Islands of Fertility 3

1.3.3 Biological Soil Crusts 5

1.4 The Pulse Reserve Paradigm of Arid Ecosystems 6

1.5 Response of Arid Ecosystems to Disturbance 7

1.6 Arid Ecosystems as a Model for Soil Biology 7

1.7 Summary 7

2 Soils in Arid and Semiarid Environments: the Importance of Organic Carbon and Microbial Populations. Facing the Future / Carlos Garcia Garcia, Carlos, J.L. Moreno Moreno, J.L., T. Hernandez Hernandez, T., F. Bastida Bastida, F. 15

2.1 Introduction 15

2.2 Climate Regulation and Soil Organic Carbon in Arid-Semiarid Zones 16

2.3 Land Use and Soil Organic Carbon in Arid-Semiarid Zones 17

2.4 Soil Restoration in Arid-Semiarid Zones: Amendments Based on Exogenous Organic Matter 18

2.5 Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activity in Arid-Semiarid Zones 19

2.6 Organic Carbon, Macro and Microaggregates, and C Sequestration in Arid-Semiarid Zones 22

2.7 Conclusion 23

3 Water Potential as a Master Variable for Atmosphere-Soil Trace Gas Exchange in Arid and Semiarid Ecosystems / Gary M. King King, Gary M. 31

3.1 Introduction 31

3.2 Water Potential and Water Potential Assays 32

3.3 Limits of Growth and Metabolic Activity 35

3.4 Water Potential and Trace Gas Exchanges 37

3.5 Conclusions 41

4 Microbiology of Antarctic Edaphic and Lithic Habitats / Thulani P. Makhalanyane Makhalanyane, Thulani P., Storme Z. de Scally Scally, Storme Z. de, Don A. Cowan Cowan, Don A. 47

4.1 Introduction 47

4.2 Classification of Antarctic soils 48

4.2.1 McMurdo Dry Valley Soils 49

4.2.2 Antarctic Peninsula Soils 50

4.3 Bacterial Diversity of Soils in the MDVs and Antarctic Peninsula 51

4.4 Cryptic Niches in Antarctic Environments 54

4.4.1 Hypoliths 55

4.4.2 Epiliths 56

4.4.3 Endoliths 57

4.5 Biogeochemical Cycling in Antarctic Environments 59

4.6 Viruses in Antarctic Edaphic Ecosystems 59

4.7 Conclusions and Perspectives 60

5 Bryophyte and Lichen Diversity on Arid Soils: Determinants and Consequences / Matthew A. Bowker Bowker, Matthew A., Burkhard Büdel Büdel, Burkhard, Fernando T. Maestre Maestre, Fernando T., Anita J. Antoninka Antoninka, Anita J., David J. Eldridge Eldridge, David J. 73

5.1 Overview 73

5.1.1 Moss, Liverwort, and Lichen Biology 73

5.2 Global Diversity and Characteristic Taxa 74

5.2.1 Global Species Pool 74

5.2.2 Global Characteristic Taxa and β Diversity 75

5.3 Determinants of Moss, Liverwort, and Lichen Diversity on Arid Soils 78

5.3.1 Geographic Isolation and Biogeography 78

5.3.2 Climatic Gradients and Climate Change 79

5.3.3 Calcicole-Calcifuge Dichotomy and Soil pH Gradients 80

5.3.4 The Special Case of Gypsiferous Soils 81

5.4 Consequences of Moss, Liverwort, and Lichen Diversity on Arid Soils 82

5.4.1 Contribution of Biocrust Lichens and Bryophytes to Arid Ecosystem Function 82

5.4.2 Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning Relationship 83

5.4.3 Effects of Species Richness, Turnover, and Evenness on Ecosystem Functions 84

5.4.4 Multifunctionality 87

5.4.5 Functional Redundancy or Singularity? 88

5.5 Summary and Conclusions 89

6 Fungal Diversity, Community Structure and Their Functional Roles in Desert Soils / Andrea Porras-Alfaro Porras-Alfaro, Andrea, Cedric Ndinga Muniania Muniania, Cedric Ndinga, Paris S. Hamm Hamm, Paris S., Terry J. Torres-Cruz Torres-Cruz, Terry J., Cheryl R. Kuske Kuske, Cheryl R. 97

6.1 Spatial Heterogeneity of Fungal Communities in Arid Lands 97

6.1.1 Biocrusts 100

6.1.2 Plant Associated Fungi in Deserts 103

6.2 Roles in Nutrient Cycling and Effects of Climate Change on Fungal Communities 107

6.3 Extremophiles in Deserts 108

6.3.1 Thermophilic and Thermotolerant Fungi 109

6.3.2 Rock Varnish and Microcolonial Fungi in Deserts 109

6.4 Human Pathogenic Fungi in Desert Ecosystems 111

6.4.1 Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii 112

6.4.2 Dematiaceous and Keratinolytic Fungi in Deserts 112

6.4.3 Eumycetoma 113

6.4.4 Mycotoxins 114

6.5 Importance of Fungal Biodiversity in Arid Lands 115

7 Limits of Photosynthesis in Arid Environments / T.G. Allan Green Green, T.G. Allan 123

7.1 Introduction 123

7.2 Photosynthetic Responses to Environmental Factors, a Background 124

7.2.1 Rates, Chlorophyll and Mass 124

7.2.2 Response of Net Photosynthesis (NP) to Light (PPFD, μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) 126

7.2.3 Response of Net Photosynthesis to Temperature 127

7.2.4 Response of Net Photosynthesis to Thallus Water Content (WC) 127

7.2.5 Response of Net Photosynthesis to CO₂ Concentration 129

7.3 Optimal Versus Real Photosynthetic Rates 129

7.4 Limits to Photosynthesis in Arid Areas 131

7.4.1 Length of Active Time 131

7.4.2 Limits When Active - External Limitation Through Light and Temperature 132

7.4.3 Limits When Active - Internal Limitation Through Thallus Hydration 132

7.4.4 Catastrophes 133

7.5 Flexibility - an Often Overlooked Factor 134

7.6 Summary 134

8 The Response of Arid Soil Communities to Climate Change / Blaire Steven Steven, Blaire, Theresa A. McHugh McHugh, Theresa A., Sasha Reed Reed, Sasha 139

8.1 Overview 139

8.2 Biological Responses to Elevated Atmospheric CO₂ 140

8.3 Biological Responses to Increased Temperature 142

8.4 Biological Responses to Changes in Precipitation 143

8.4.1 Natural Precipitation Gradients 145

8.4.2 Precipitation Manipulation Studies 147

8.5 Interactions Between Temperature and Soil Moisture 149

8.6 Conclusion 150

9 Artificial Soils as Tools for Microbial Ecology / Doreen Babin Babin, Doreen, Michael Hemkemeyer Hemkemeyer, Michael, Geertje J. Prank Prank, Geertje J., Ingrid Kögel-Knabner Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid, Christoph C. Tebbe Tebbe, Christoph C., Kornelia Smalla Smalla, Kornelia 159

9.1 Introduction 159

9.2 Soil Definition 160

9.3 History of Artificial Soil Experiments 162

9.4 Methods in Soil Microbial Ecology and Soil Science 164

9.5 Insights into Microbial Communities from Artificial Soil Studies 166

9.5.1 Establishment and Structuring of Soil Microbial Communities 166

9.5.2 Functioning of Soil Microbial Communities 169

9.6 Artificial Soils for Arid Soil Research 174

9.7 Concluding Remarks 175.

Notes:

Includes index.

Electronic reproduction. Berlin Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9783110419047

3110419041

Publisher Number:

40027395696

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.