Contrasting effects of biological soil crusts on soil respiration in a typical steppe

Abstract

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts), specialized communities of cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, fungi and bacteria occurring on the ground surface, are key drivers of soil carbon (C) cycles in drylands, yet our understanding of how biocrusts directly and indirectly (through soil temperature or moisture) affect soil respiration and the contributions of biocrusts to soil C efflux is very limited. Using continuous field measurements in bare and biocrusted soils, we assessed the influence of biocrusts on soil respiration and the biocrust contribution to soil respiration over a one-year period and explained the mechanisms by which biocrusts directly and indirectly regulate soil respiration. Although the overall effect of biocrusts on soil respiration was positive, contrasting effects of biocrusts on soil respiration were also found. Unfortunately, the indirect effect of biocrusts on soil respiration through soil temperature or moisture was nonsignificant. The driving factor of total soil respiration was soil temperature, but soil moisture, photosynthetically active radiation and precipitation were driving factors for soil respiration in the biocrust layer. We proposed conceptual frameworks to explain the contrasting mechanisms by which biocrusts modulate soil respiration. In addition, biocrusts decreased the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Our findings indicate that biocrusts may alter the driving factors, forming contrasting mechanisms to regulate soil respiration in the biocrust layer, and emphasize the important roles of biocrusts as modulators of C cycles in dryland soils. Incorporating biocrusts into terrestrial C process models may improve predictions of climate change impacts on dryland ecosystems.