Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Biogeochemistry; Biological soil crust; Cryptobiotic soil; Desert pavement; Desert soils; Fertile island; Geomorphology; Soil crusting; Soil formation; Soil microbial ecology; United States – Mojave Desert; Vesicular horizon
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Co-Development Of Biological Soil Crusts, Soil-Geomorphology, And Landscape Biogeochemistry In The Mojave Desert, Nevada, U.S.A. – Implications For Ecological Management, Amanda Jean Williams
Co-Development Of Biological Soil Crusts, Soil-Geomorphology, And Landscape Biogeochemistry In The Mojave Desert, Nevada, U.S.A. – Implications For Ecological Management, Amanda Jean Williams
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are complex matrices of soil particles, mosses, lichens, and cyanobacteria that prevent erosion and influence water and energy balances, soil fertility, and vascular plant germination. The processes that form BSCs, the factors that control their distribution, and the ecosystem feedbacks that they sustain are poorly understood. This dissertation employed a novel interdisciplinary approach to address those research unknowns through investigations of the micromorphological structure, soil-geomorphic relationships, and biogeochemical feedbacks of BSCs in the Mojave Desert.
A micromorphological study of BSCs resulted in a succession model that illustrates how crust formative processes and structures change through time. …