Role of Climate and Edaphic Factors on the Community Composition of Biocrusts Along an Elevation Gradient in the High Arctic.

Biological soil crusts are integral to Arctic ecosystems, playing a crucial role in primary production, nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling, as well as maintaining soil stability. However, the composition and complex relationships between the diverse organisms within these biocrusts are not well studied. This study investigates how the microbial community composition within Arctic biocrusts is influenced by environmental factors along an altitudinal gradient (101 m to 314 m).

Ecophysiological performance of terrestrial diatoms isolated from biocrusts of coastal sand dunes.

Terrestrial diatoms are widespread in a large variety of habitats and are regularly recorded in biocrusts. Although diatoms have long been known to live in terrestrial habitats, only a few studies have focused on their diversity of ecophysiology. Here we present a study on the ecophysiological performance of five terrestrial diatom cultures from biocrusts, which were collected in sand dunes of the German coast of the Baltic Sea.

Successional Development of the Phototrophic Community in Biological Soil Crusts on Coastal and Inland Dunes.

(1) Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are microecosystems consisting of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms growing on the topsoil. This study aims to characterize changes in the community structure of biocrust phototrophic organisms along a dune chronosequence in the Baltic Sea compared to an inland dune in northern Germany. (2) A vegetation survey followed by species determination and sediment analyses were conducted.