Land degradation reduces soil functioning and, consequently, the services that soil
provides. Soil hydrological functions are critical to combat soil degradation and promote soil …

The tension between a growing global demand for food, rising environmental impacts of
agricultural intensification, and the uncertainty of future changes in our global climate …

Photoautotrophic surface communities forming biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are crucial
for soil stability as well as water, nutrient and trace gas cycling at regional and global scales …

Responses of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change have been explored in many regions
worldwide. While continued drying and warming may alter process rates and deteriorate the …

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous components of biocrust communities and the first colonizers of
terrestrial ecosystems. They play multiple roles in the soil by fixing C and N and synthesizing …

Waterlogging remains a significant constraint to cereal production across the globe in areas
with high rainfall and/or poor drainage. Improving tolerance of plants to waterlogging is the …

Lichens occur in most terrestrial ecosystems; they are often present as minor contributors,
but in some forests, drylands and tundras they can make up most of the ground layer …

Water is vital for many biological processes and is essential for all living organisms.
However, numerous macroorganisms and microorganisms have adapted to survive in …

The complex interactions between biocrust properties and rainfall characteristics give rise to
partitioning of infiltration and runoff. In this review we examine primary mechanisms for …

Land degradation by erosion is especially important in drylands, which are among the most
vulnerable to disturbance by human activity or climate change. Biocrusts are an essential …