Dew formation on the surface of biological soil crusts in central European sand ecosystems

Abstract. Dew formation was investigated in three developmental stages of biological soil crusts (BSC), which were collected along a catena of an inland dune and in the initial substrate. The Penman equation, which was developed for saturated surfaces, was modified for unsaturated surfaces and used for prediction of dewfall rates. The levels of surface saturation required for this approach were predicted using the water retention functions and the thicknesses of the BSCs. During a first field campaign (2–3 August 2011), dewfall increased from 0.042 kg m−2 for the initial sandy substrate to 0.058, 0.143 and 0.178 kg m−2 for crusts 1 to 3, respectively. During a second field campaign (17–18 August 2011), where dew formation was recorded in 1.5 to 2.75-h intervals after installation at 21:30 CEST, dewfall increased from 0.011 kg m−2 for the initial sandy substrate to 0.013, 0.028 and 0.055 kg m−2 for crusts 1 to 3, respectively. Dewfall rates remained on low levels for the substrate and for crust 1, and decreased overnight for crusts 2 and 3 (with crust 3 > crust 2 > crust 1 throughout the campaign). Dew formation was well reflected by the model response. The suggested mechanism of dew formation involves a delay in water saturation in near-surface soil pores and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) where the crusts were thicker and where the water capacity was high, resulting in elevated vapor flux towards the surface. The results also indicate that the amount of dewfall was too low to saturate the BSCs and to observe water flow into deeper soil. Analysis of the soil water retention curves revealed that, despite the sandy mineral matrix, moist crusts clogged by swollen EPS pores exhibited a clay-like behavior. It is hypothesized that BSCs gain double benefit from suppressing their competitors by runoff generation and from improving their water supply by dew collection. Despite higher amounts of dew, the water availability to the crust community decreases with crust development, which may be compensated by ecophysiological adaptation of crust organisms, and which may further suppress higher vegetation or mosses.

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Dew formation on the surface of biological soil crusts in central European sand ecosystems

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-9-8075-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 8075-8092 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. Fischer ◽

M. Veste ◽

O. Bens ◽

R. F. Hüttl

Keyword(s):

Water Retention ◽

Water Saturation ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Runoff Generation ◽

Near Surface ◽

Vapor Flux ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Initial Substrate ◽

Dew Formation

Abstract. Dew formation was investigated in three developmental stages of biological soil crusts (BSC), which were collected along a catena of an inland dune and in the initial substrate. The Penman equation, which was developed for saturated surfaces, was modified for unsaturated surfaces and used for prediction of dewfall rates. The levels of surface saturation required for this approach were predicted using the water retention functions and the thicknesses of the BSCs. During a single event, dewfall increased with crust development from 0.08 kg m−2 for the initial substrate to 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25 kg m−2 for crusts stages 1 to 3, respectively, which was well reflected by the model response. The suggested mechanism of dew formation involves a delay in water saturation in near-surface soil pores and EPS where the crusts were thicker and where the water capacity was high, resulting in elevated vapor flux towards the surface. The results also indicate that the amount of dewfall was too low to observe water flow into deeper soil. Analysis of the soil water retention curves revealed that, despite the sandy mineral matrix, moist crusts with clogged by swollen EPS pores exhibited a clay-like behavior. It is hypothesized that BSCs gain double benefit from suppressing their competitors by runoff generation and from improving their water supply by dew collection. Despite higher amounts of dew, the water availability to the crust community decreases with crust development, which may be compensated by ecophysiological adaptation of crust organisms, and which may further suppress higher vegetation or mosses.

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Microbial extracellular polymeric substances improve water retention in dryland biological soil crusts

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 67-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Alessandra Adessi ◽

Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho ◽

Roberto De Philippis ◽

Cristina Branquinho ◽

Jorge Marques da Silva

Keyword(s):

Water Retention ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Soil Crusts

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Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics ◽

10.1515/johh-2016-0009 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Stella Gypser ◽

Maik Veste ◽

Thomas Fischer ◽

Philipp Lange

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Water Retention ◽

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Water Holding Capacity ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Lignite Mining ◽

Mining Sites ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Water Holding ◽

Open Cast

AbstractInvestigations were done on two former open-cast lignite mining sites under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow Süd, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf Süd (Brandenburg, Germany). The aim was to associate the topsoil hydrological characteristics of green algae dominated as well as moss and soil lichen dominated biological soil crusts during crustal succession with their water retention and the repellency index on sandy soils under temperate climate and different reliefs.The investigation of the repellency index showed on the one hand an increase due to the cross-linking of sand particles by green algae which resulted in clogging of pores. On the other hand, the occurrence of moss plants led to a decrease of the repellency index due to absorption caused by bryophytes. The determination of the water retention curves showed an increase of the water holding capacity, especially in conjunction with the growth of green algae layer. The pore-related van Genuchten parameter indicate a clay-like behaviour of the developed soil crusts. Because of the inhomogeneous distribution of lichens and mosses as well as the varying thickness of green algae layers, the water retention differed between the study sites and between samples of similar developmental stages. However, similar tendencies of water retention and water repellency related to the soil crust formation were observed.Biological soil crusts should be considered after disturbances in the context of reclamation measures, because the initial development of green algae biocrusts lead to an increasing repellency index, while the occurrence of mosses and a gain in organic matter enhance the water holding capacity. Thus, the succession of biocrusts and their small-scale succession promote the development of soil and ecosystem.

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Pore characteristics in biological soil crusts are independent of extracellular polymeric substances

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.029 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 103 ◽

pp. 294-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Vincent J.M.N.L. Felde ◽

Federico Rossi ◽

Claudia Colesie ◽

Daniel Uteau-Puschmann ◽

Rainer Horn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Pore Characteristics ◽

Soil Crusts

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Biological soil crusts as key player in biogeochemical P cycling during pedogenesis of sandy substrate

Geoderma ◽

10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 338 ◽

pp. 145-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Karen Baumann ◽

Meike Siebers ◽

Jens Kruse ◽

Kai-Uwe Eckhardt ◽

Yongfeng Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Sandy Substrate ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

P Cycling

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The CO<sub>2</sub> exchange of biological soil crusts in a semiarid grass-shrubland at the northern transition zone of the Negev desert, Israel

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-5-1969-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 1969-2001 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

B. Wilske ◽

J. Burgheimer ◽

A. Karnieli ◽

E. Zaady ◽

M. O. Andreae ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Negev Desert ◽

Co2 Uptake ◽

Co2 Efflux ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Dew Formation ◽

Rain Season ◽

Winter Rain

Abstract. Biological soil crusts (BSC) contribute significantly to the soil surface cover in many dryland ecosystems. A mixed type of BSC, which consists of cyanobacteria, mosses and cyanolichens, constitutes more than 60% of ground cover in the semiarid grass-shrub steppe at Sayeret Shaked in the northern Negev Desert, Israel. This study aimed at parameterizing the carbon sink capacity of well-developed BSC in undisturbed steppe systems. Mobile enclosures on permanent soil borne collars were used to investigate BSC-related CO2 fluxes in situ and with natural moisture supply during 10 two-day field campaigns within seven months from fall 2001 to summer 2002. Highest BSC-related CO2 deposition between −11.31 and −17.56 mmol m−2 per 15 h was found with BSC activated from rain and dew during the peak of the winter rain season. Net CO2 deposition by BSC was calculated to compensate 120%, −26%, and less than 3% of the concurrent soil CO2 efflux from November–January, February–May and November–May, respectively. Thus, BSC effectively compensated soil CO2 effluxes when CO2 uptake by vascular vegetation was probably at its low point. Nighttime respiratory emission reduced daily BSC-related CO2 deposition within the period November–January by 11–123% and on average by 27%. The analysis of CO2 fluxes and water inputs from the various sources showed that the bulk of BSC-related CO2 deposition occurs during periods with frequent rain events and subsequent condensation from water accumulated in the upper soil layers. Significant BSC activity on days without detectable atmospheric water supply emphasized the importance of high soil moisture contents as additional water source for soil-dwelling BSC, whereas activity upon dew formation at low soil water contents was not of major importance for BSC-related CO2 deposition. However, dew may still be important in attaining a pre-activated status during the transition from a long "summer" anabiosis towards the first winter rain.

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The CO<sub>2</sub> exchange of biological soil crusts in a semiarid grass-shrubland at the northern transition zone of the Negev desert, Israel

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-5-1411-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 1411-1423 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

B. Wilske ◽

J. Burgheimer ◽

A. Karnieli ◽

E. Zaady ◽

M. O. Andreae ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Negev Desert ◽

Co2 Uptake ◽

Co2 Efflux ◽

Co2 Fluxes ◽

Soil Co2 ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Dew Formation ◽

Rain Season ◽

Winter Rain

Abstract. Biological soil crusts (BSC) contribute significantly to the soil surface cover in many dryland ecosystems. A mixed type of BSC, which consists of cyanobacteria, mosses and cyanolichens, constitutes more than 60% of ground cover in the semiarid grass-shrub steppe at Sayeret Shaked in the northern Negev Desert, Israel. This study aimed at parameterizing the carbon sink capacity of well-developed BSC in undisturbed steppe systems. Mobile enclosures on permanent soil borne collars were used to investigate BSC-related CO2 fluxes in situ and with natural moisture supply during 10 two-day field campaigns within seven months from fall 2001 to summer 2002. Highest BSC-related CO2 deposition between –11.31 and –17.56 mmol m−2 per 15 h was found with BSC activated from rain and dew during the peak of the winter rain season. Net CO2 deposition by BSC was calculated to compensate 120%, –26%, and less than 3% of the concurrent soil CO2 efflux from November–January, February–May and November–May, respectively. Thus, BSC effectively compensated soil CO2 effluxes when CO2 uptake by vascular vegetation was probably at its low point. Nighttime respiratory emission reduced daily BSC-related CO2 deposition within the period November–January by 11–123% and on average by 27%. The analysis of CO2 fluxes and water inputs from the various sources showed that the bulk of BSC-related CO2 deposition occurs during periods with frequent rain events and subsequent condensation from water accumulated in the upper soil layers. Significant BSC activity on days without detectable atmospheric water supply emphasized the importance of high soil moisture contents as additional water source for soil-dwelling BSC, whereas activity upon dew formation at low soil water contents was not of major importance for BSC-related CO2 deposition. However, dew may still be important in attaining a pre-activated status during the transition from a long "summer" anabiosis towards the first winter rain.

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Dew Formation and Activity of Biological Soil Crusts

Ecological Studies - Arid Dune Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/978-3-540-75498-5_21 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 305-318 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. Veste ◽

B. G. Heusinkveld ◽

S. M. Berkowicz ◽

S. -W. Breckle ◽

T. Littmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Dew Formation

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Biological soil crusts on initial soils: organic carbon dynamics and chemistry under temperate climatic conditions

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-10-851-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 851-894 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. Dümig ◽

M. Veste ◽

F. Hagedorn ◽

T. Fischer ◽

P. Lange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Sand Dune ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Water Solubility ◽

Biological Soil Crusts ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Natural Sand ◽

Soil Crusts ◽

Northeastern Germany

Abstract. Numerous studies have been carried out on the community structure and diversity of biological soil crusts (BSCs) as well as their important functions on ecosystem processes. However, the amount of BSC-derived organic carbon (OC) input into soils and its chemical composition under natural conditions has rarely been investigated. In this study, different development stages of algae- and moss-dominated BSCs were investigated on a~natural (<17 yr old BSCs) and experimental sand dune (<4 yr old BSCs) in northeastern Germany. We determined the OC accumulation in BSC-layers and the BSC-derived OC input into the underlying substrates for bulk materials and fractions <63 μm. The chemical composition of OC was characterized by applying solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and analysis of the carbohydrate-C signature.14C contents were used to assess the origin and dynamic of OC in BSCs and underlying substrates. Our results indicated a rapid BSC establishment and development from algae- to moss-dominated BSCs within only 4 yr under this temperate climate. The distribution of BSC types was presumably controlled by the surface stability according to the position in the slope. We found no evidence that soil properties influenced the BSC distribution on both sand dunes. 14C contents clearly indicated the existence of two OC pools in BSCs and substrates, recent BSC-derived OC and lignite-derived "old" OC (biologically refractory). The input of recent BSC-derived OC strongly decreased the mean residence time of total OC. The downward translocation of OC into the underlying substrates was only found for moss-dominated BSCs at the natural sand dune which may accelerate soil formation at these spots. BSC-derived OC mainly comprised O-alkyl C (carbohydrate-C) and to a lesser extent also alkyl C and N-alkyl C in varying compositions. Accumulation of alkyl C was only detected in BSCs at the experimental dune which may induce a~lower water solubility of BSC-derived extracellular polymeric substances when compared to BSCs at the natural sand dune indicating that hydrological effects of BSCs on soils depend on the chemical composition of the extracellular polymeric substances.

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