Interest in understanding the role of biocrusts as ecosystem engineers in drylands has
substantially increased during the past two decades. Mosses are a major component of …

Soil mosses are among the most widely distributed organisms on land. Experiments and
observations suggest that they contribute to terrestrial soil biodiversity and function, yet their …

Preventing degradation, facilitating restoration, and maintaining soil health is fundamental
for achieving ecosystem stability and resilience. A healthy soil ecosystem is supported by …

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) form a Bliving skin^ at the soil surface in many low-
productivity ecosystems around the world including water-and cold-limited environments …

Biocrusts are ecosystem engineers providing vital functions and services on the Earth's land
surface, while biocrust ecology in degraded karst landscapes has not yet been well …

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are an important biological component of the soil surface,
covering approximately 12% of the Earth's land surface. Although BSCs are closely related …

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are a primary source of nitrogen (N) in deserts through N-
fixation. N-fixation rates may be determined by the species present within BSCs, and …

The size, frequency, and timing of precipitation events are predicted to become more
variable worldwide. Despite these predictions, the importance of changes in precipitation in …

Soil microbes mediate soil organic carbon (SOC) storage by affecting microbial residue
carbon (C) in terrestrial ecosystems, a main source of SOC. However, how microbial residue …

Aims Biocrusts, the living skin of dryland ecosystems, contain diverse soil microorganisms
that are essential to biocrust formation and the maintenance of multiple ecological functions …