CHINESE scientists have recently uncovered the distribution pattern of dryland biocrusts, often described as the “skin” of the soil or a “carpet” that stabilizes sand, according to the Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources (NIEER), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
This study offers new insights into dryland biocrusts, paving the way for their application in desertification control and ecological restoration efforts, said Li Xinrong, a researcher from NIEER who led the study.
The study was jointly conducted by researchers from the NIEER and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, both under the CAS.
Biocrusts are composed of non-vascular plants and photoautotrophs, such as lichens, mosses and cyanobacteria, as well as various heterotrophic microorganisms. They constitute the main soil surface cover in drylands and play an important role in ecological, hydrological and soil processes and biogeochemical cycles in the global drylands.
“Notably, they can also make it difficult for invasive alien species, reducing their chances of settlement and effectively protecting original dryland and desert ecosystems,” Li explained.
“Biocrusts have different morphology and life history as compared to vascular plant communities. Our study theoretically explains the distribution pattern of biocrusts in drylands,” he said.
The team of scientists adopted a research method that combines computational modelling with field investigation. They employed a probabilistic cellular automaton model, which simulated the dynamic changes of lichen and moss patches.
The researchers carried out the field observations of biocrusts across successional stages at the Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Xinhua
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