Bryophyte diversity and microhabitat characteristics of bryophyte-dominated biological soil crusts development in water-wind erosion crisscross region of the northern Loess Plateau, China

Abstract

Microhabitat factors play an important role in regulating bryophyte species distribution and the development of bryophyte-dominated biological soil crusts (hereafter bryophyte crusts). We investigated the distribution and development of bryophytes in eight microhabitats in the water-wind erosion crisscross region of the Loess Pla-teau. We used the line intercept transects to explore and quantify the influencing pathways of microhabitat factors on bryophyte diversity and analyzed the influencing pathways of plant cover, slope aspect, and slope gradient by using structural equation model to quantify influencing coefficients. Our results showed that: 1) The Patrick, Shannon, Pielou, and Simpson indcies of bryophytes under plant canopy were 63.4%, 66.6%, 91.0%, and 68.3% lower than that without plant canopy, respectively, while the thickness, biomass, and chlorophyll content of bryophyte crusts were 0.5, 0.2, and 1.3 times higher than that without plant canopy, respectively. 2) The Patrick, Shannon, Pielou, and Simpson indexes of bryophytes on the north slope were 0.6, 0.9, 5.6, and 0.9 times higher than those on the south slope, while the thickness, biomass, and chlorophyll content of bryophyte crusts were 0.3, 0.3, and 0.6 times higher than those on the south slope, respectively. 3) As the slope increasing from 14° to 34°, the Patrick, Shannon, Pielou, and Simpson indexes of bryophyte were decreased by 59.8%, 84.1%, 57.3% and 68.0%, and the thickness, biomass, and chlorophyll content of bryophyte crusts were decreased by 15.2%, 25.0%, and 16.5%, respectively. 4) The importance of the three microhabitat factors on bryophyte diversity and the development of bryophyte crusts followed an order of plant canopy cover > slope aspect > slope gradient. The primary influencing pathway varied among the microhabitat factors. In conclusion, plant cover, slope aspect, and slope gradient significantly affected the distribution of bryophytes species and developmental level of bryophyte crusts through direct and indirect pathways. Therefore, full consideration should be given to microhabitat conditions when using bryophyte crusts to control desertification.