Establishing rates of lateral expansion of cyanobacterial biological soil crusts for optimal restoration

Aims Biocrusts that form on topsoils contribute ecosystem services to drylands, and their loss under anthropogenic pressure has negative ecological consequences. Therefore, development of biocrust inoculation technology for restoration is of interest. This requires knowledge of biocrust growth and d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2018-08, Vol.429 (1/2), p.199-211
Main Authors: Sorochkina, Kira, Ayuso, Sergio Velasco, Garcia-Pichel, Ferran
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Arid zones
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Chlorophyll
Crusts
Cyanobacteria
Dispersal
Ecological effects
Ecology
Ecosystem services
Gliding
Greenhouses
Growth
Hormogonia
Inoculation
Inoculum
Inspection
Life Sciences
Local precipitation
Methods
Mimicry
Motility
Observations
Optimization
Photography
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Propagules
Regular Article
Restoration
Soil inoculation
Soil microbiology
Soil Science & Conservation
Topsoil
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Summary:Aims Biocrusts that form on topsoils contribute ecosystem services to drylands, and their loss under anthropogenic pressure has negative ecological consequences. Therefore, development of biocrust inoculation technology for restoration is of interest. This requires knowledge of biocrust growth and dispersal. To contribute to this, we determined the speed at which biocrusts expand laterally based on the self-propelled motility of cyanobacteria. Methodology We inoculated sterile soil with natural biocrusts and incubated them over a year in a greenhouse under conditions mimicking local precipitation, monitoring the crust's lateral expansion using time-course photography, chlorophyll a content, and microscopic inspection. Concurrent uninoculated controls served to monitor, and discount, natural inoculation by aeolian propagules. Results While the expansion front was highly variable in space, biocrusts expanded in the order of 2 cm month−1, but only in seasons with moderate temperatures (Spring and Fall). Microcoleus vaginatus, Microcoleus steenstrupii, and Scytonema spp. advanced at averages of 1 cm month−1, the crust advance front being preferentially driven by specialized propagules (hormogonia). These rates are within expectations based on instantaneous gliding motility speeds of cyanobacteria. Conclusions Based on the expansion capability of biocrusts during growth seasons, greenhouse inoculum units can be optimally spaced to fill 4–8 cm gaps.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-018-3695-5