Understanding how drylands respond to ongoing environmental change is extremely
important for global sustainability. In this review, we discuss how biotic attributes, climate …

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

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are widespread, diverse communities of cyanobacteria,
fungi, lichens, and mosses living on soil surfaces, primarily in drylands. Biocrusts can locally …

Non‐rainfall water inputs (NRWIs) are the least studied hydrological components in most
ecosystems. These NRWI components potentially play an important role in ecosystem …

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 …

Manipulative experiments typically show a decrease in dryland biocrust cover and altered
species composition under climate change. Biocrust‐forming lichens, such as the globally …

It is well‐known that vascular plants have species‐specific effects on soil properties.
However, little is known on how individual species forming biocrusts, communities …

Climate change will raise temperatures and modify precipitation patterns in drylands
worldwide, affecting their structure and functioning. Despite the recognized importance of …

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) influence hydrological and erosive processes in drylands,
and their effects increase with hypothetic successional development. Runoff and raindrops …

Links between water and carbon (C) cycles in drylands are strongly regulated by biocrusts.
These widespread communities in the intershrub spaces of drylands are able to use non …