Response of biological soil crusts to raindrop erosivity and underlying influences in the hilly Loess Plateau region, China

摘要: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are ubiquitous living covers in arid and semiarid regions, playing a critical role erosion control regions. So far, research separating the multiple mechanisms of by biocrusts has been limited. It was problematic to link influence existing models. In present study, response different successional stages raindrop erosivity underlying influences investigated. Using single drop simulated rainfall, controlling capacities were analyzed from an energetic perspective. The results showed that caused dramatic improvement resistance, which depended on species composition increased considerably with higher succession stages. While accumulated kinetic energy sustained dark cyanobacterial 0.93 J (~15 times than bare soil), 60 % moss covered reached values up 20.18 J (~342 soil) for 80 % even 24.59 J measured. Besides stages, resistance related substrate moisture, texture, slope gradients seasonal variation. measured highest silty, followed loamy sandy soil. For moss-dominated sandy, silty Dry biocrust samples significantly energies compared moist biocrusts, whereas moisture content within did not have significant influence. Erosion gradients. during monsoon post-monsoon these pre-monsoon biocrusts. Our suggest can be included into models point view. capacity provides potential bridge between erodibility commonly used