Decline in biological soil crust N-fixing lichens linked to increasing summertime temperatures
Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS)
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- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Data Release: USGS data release - Biocrust cover, vegetation, and climate data from a protected grassland within Canyonlands National Park, Utah (ver. 2.0, Sept. 2023)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
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Abstract
Across many global drylands, biocrusts form a protective barrier on the soil surface and fill many critical roles in these harsh yet fragile environments. Previous short-term research suggests that climate change and invasive plant introduction can damage and alter biocrust communities, yet few long-term observations exist. Using a globally unique long-term record of continuous biocrust surveys from a rare never-grazed, protected grassland on the US Colorado Plateau, we found lichen species diversity and cover to be negatively correlated with increasing summer air temperatures, while moss species showed more sensitivity to variation in precipitation and invasive grass cover. These results suggest that dryland systems may be at a critical tipping point where ongoing warming could result in biological soil crust degradation.
Suggested Citation
Finger-Higgens, R.A., Duniway, M.C., Fick, S.E., Geiger, E.L., Hoover, D.L., Pfennigwerth, A., Van Scoyoc, M.W., and Belnap, J., 2022, Decline in biological soil crust N-fixing lichens linked to increasing summertime temperatures: Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS), v. 119, no. 16, e2120975119, 8 p., https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120975119.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Decline in biological soil crust N-fixing lichens linked to increasing summertime temperatures |
| Series title | Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS) |
| DOI | 10.1073/pnas.2120975119 |
| Volume | 119 |
| Issue | 16 |
| Publication Date | April 11, 2022 |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | National Academy of Science |
| Contributing office(s) | Southwest Biological Science Center |
| Description | e2120975119, 8 p. |