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Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry

Michelle Szyja1, Vincent J M N L Felde2, Sara Lückel3

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|May 8, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) in tropical dry forests impact soil water infiltration and aggregate stability. While biocrusts can reduce infiltration under disturbance, they enhance soil aggregate stability, crucial for erosion control and forest regeneration.

Keywords:
aggregate stabilitybiological soil crustecosystem engineerecosystem servicesregenerationtropical dry forestwater infiltration and sorptivity

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Soil Science
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem services in regenerating tropical dry forests.
  • Edaphic ecosystem engineering by biocrusts influences soil hydrology and erosion, impacting landscape functioning.
  • Human disturbance and increasing aridity in Caatinga dry forests (NE Brazil) necessitate understanding biocrust roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability.
  • To assess biocrust impacts in a human-modified Caatinga dry forest landscape with contrasting disturbance levels.
  • To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control mechanisms influenced by biocrusts on sandy soils.

Main Methods:

  • Field study in Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil) comparing an active cashew plantation and an abandoned regenerating field.
  • Minidisc-infiltrometry and raindrop-simulation experiments to measure hydraulic properties and aggregate stability.
  • Wet sieving techniques used to analyze soil aggregate stability under different disturbance and biocrust succession stages.

Main Results:

  • Biocrusts negatively impacted water infiltration, with a greater reduction (42%) under disturbance compared to regeneration (37%).
  • Biocrusts under regeneration exhibited lower sorptivity and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, with doubled water repellency.
  • Biocrusts significantly enhanced soil aggregate stability, increasing with biocrust succession, indicating protective potential against erosion.

Conclusions:

  • Cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts play a vital role in erosion control and surface water availability in human-modified tropical dry forests.
  • While disturbance can impair biocrusts' ecosystem services, their role in aggregate stabilization offers protection against land degradation.
  • Further research is needed to quantify biocrust contributions to forest recovery and overall ecosystem functioning in the Caatinga.