Biocrusts buffer against the accumulation of soil metallic nutrients induced by warming and rainfall reduction.

摘要: The availability of metallic nutrients in dryland soils, many which are essential for the metabolism soil organisms and vascular plants, may be altered due to climate change-driven increases aridity. Biocrusts, surface communities dominated by lichens, bryophytes cyanobacteria, ecosystem engineers known exert critical functions ecosystems. However, their role regulating nutrient under change is uncertain. Here, we evaluated whether well-developed biocrusts modulate response 7 years experimental warming rainfall reduction a Mediterranean located southeastern Spain. We found K, Mg, Zn Na exclusion. presence biocrust cover buffered these effects, most likely because its constituents can uptake significant quantities available nutrients. Our findings suggest that biocrusts, biotic community prevalent drylands, an important preserving protecting soils from leaching erosion. Therefore, highlight need protect them mitigate undesired effects degradation driven this globally expanding biome. Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez et al. experimentally manipulate temperature explore association with They find biocrusts—communities cyanobacteria on surface—can buffer against reduced availability.