Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are complex consortia of microorganisms able to modify soil
physical, chemical, and hydrological characteristics and influence soil erosion resistance …

Drylands are limited by water and nutrients and exposed to high solar radiation, which result
in sparse vegetation cover, soil erosion, and subsequent land degradation. Land …

Soil erosion continues to be one of the most serious environmental problems of our time and
is exacerbated by progressive climate change. Until now, forests have been considered an …

Biological soil crusts, or “biocrusts”, are biogeochemical hotspots that can significantly
influence ecosystem processes in arid environments. Although they can cover large areas …

Biological soil crusts (Biocrusts) are considered to have significant effects on soil
detachment processes. Increasing extreme droughts are expected to affect the structure and …

Abstract In the Brazilian Pampa, vegetation disturbance and soil degradation led to an
expansion of sediment remobilization areas, a process locally termed as sandization …

In dryland ecosystems, typically characterized by sparse vegetation and nutrient scarcity,
pioneer plants exert a critical role in the build-up of soil carbon (C). Continuous root-derived …

The microbiota is attributed to be important for initial soil formation under extreme climate
conditions, but experimental evidence for its relevance is scarce. To fill this gap, we …

As an important biological component of the soil surface in drylands, biocrusts play an
indispensable role in maintaining soil ecosystem multifunctionality. However, the …

Potash mining, typically performed for agricultural fertilizer production, can create piles of
residual salt waste that are ecologically detrimental and difficult to revegetate. Biological soil …