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

Under continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrien...

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Main Authors: Michelle Szyja, Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde, Sara Lückel, Marcelo Tabarelli, Inara R. Leal, Burkhard Büdel, Rainer Wirth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322/full
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author Michelle Szyja
Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde
Sara Lückel
Marcelo Tabarelli
Inara R. Leal
Burkhard Büdel
Rainer Wirth
author_facet Michelle Szyja
Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde
Sara Lückel
Marcelo Tabarelli
Inara R. Leal
Burkhard Büdel
Rainer Wirth
author_sort Michelle Szyja
collection DOAJ
description Under continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrient fluxes, which impact landscape hydrology, geomorphology, and ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil), a system characterized by high levels of forest degradation and increasing aridity. By trapping dust and swelling of cyanobacterial filaments, biocrusts can seal soil surfaces and slow down infiltration, which potentially induces erosion. To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control, we used minidisc-infiltrometry, raindrop-simulation, and wet sieving at two sites with contrasting disturbance levels: an active cashew plantation and an abandoned field experiencing forest regeneration, both characterized by sandy soils. Under disturbance, biocrusts had a stronger negative impact on infiltration (reduction by 42% vs. 37% during regeneration), although biocrusts under regenerating conditions had the lowest absolute sorptivity (0.042 ± 0.02 cm s−1/2) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (0.0015 ± 0.0008 cm s−1), with a doubled water repellency. Biocrusts provided high soil aggregate stability although stability increased considerably with progression of biocrust succession (raindrop simulation disturbed: 0.19 ± 0.22 J vs. regenerating: 0.54 ± 0.22 J). The formation of stable aggregates by early successional biocrusts on sandy soils suggests protection of dry forest soils even on the worst land use/soil degradation scenario with a high soil erosion risk. Our results confirm that biocrusts covering bare interspaces between vascular plants in human-modified landscapes play an important role in surface water availability and erosion control. Biocrusts have the potential to reduce land degradation, but their associated ecosystem services like erosion protection, can be impaired by disturbance. Considering an average biocrust coverage of 8.1% of the Caatinga landscapes, further research should aim to quantify the contribution of biocrusts to forest recovery to fully understand the role they play in the functioning of this poorly explored ecosystem.
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spelling doaj.art-dd127d44ad2b469b8e87d385a214b2652023-04-20T05:57:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-04-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11363221136322Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forestMichelle Szyja0Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde1Sara Lückel2Marcelo Tabarelli3Inara R. Leal4Burkhard Büdel5Rainer Wirth6Molecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, GermanyInstitute of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Kassel University, Witzenhausen, GermanyDepartamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, BrazilDepartamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, BrazilMolecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, GermanyMolecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, GermanyUnder continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrient fluxes, which impact landscape hydrology, geomorphology, and ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil), a system characterized by high levels of forest degradation and increasing aridity. By trapping dust and swelling of cyanobacterial filaments, biocrusts can seal soil surfaces and slow down infiltration, which potentially induces erosion. To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control, we used minidisc-infiltrometry, raindrop-simulation, and wet sieving at two sites with contrasting disturbance levels: an active cashew plantation and an abandoned field experiencing forest regeneration, both characterized by sandy soils. Under disturbance, biocrusts had a stronger negative impact on infiltration (reduction by 42% vs. 37% during regeneration), although biocrusts under regenerating conditions had the lowest absolute sorptivity (0.042 ± 0.02 cm s−1/2) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (0.0015 ± 0.0008 cm s−1), with a doubled water repellency. Biocrusts provided high soil aggregate stability although stability increased considerably with progression of biocrust succession (raindrop simulation disturbed: 0.19 ± 0.22 J vs. regenerating: 0.54 ± 0.22 J). The formation of stable aggregates by early successional biocrusts on sandy soils suggests protection of dry forest soils even on the worst land use/soil degradation scenario with a high soil erosion risk. Our results confirm that biocrusts covering bare interspaces between vascular plants in human-modified landscapes play an important role in surface water availability and erosion control. Biocrusts have the potential to reduce land degradation, but their associated ecosystem services like erosion protection, can be impaired by disturbance. Considering an average biocrust coverage of 8.1% of the Caatinga landscapes, further research should aim to quantify the contribution of biocrusts to forest recovery to fully understand the role they play in the functioning of this poorly explored ecosystem.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322/fullbiological soil crusttropical dry forestwater infiltration and sorptivityaggregate stabilityregenerationecosystem services
spellingShingle Michelle Szyja
Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde
Sara Lückel
Marcelo Tabarelli
Inara R. Leal
Burkhard Büdel
Rainer Wirth
Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
Frontiers in Microbiology
biological soil crust
tropical dry forest
water infiltration and sorptivity
aggregate stability
regeneration
ecosystem services
title Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
title_full Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
title_fullStr Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
title_full_unstemmed Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
title_short Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest
title_sort biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human disturbed tropical dry forest
topic biological soil crust
tropical dry forest
water infiltration and sorptivity
aggregate stability
regeneration
ecosystem services
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322/full
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