[Development and succession of biological soil crusts and the changes of microbial biomasses].

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) play important ecological roles in vegetation and ecological restoration in desert regions, and different crust developmental and successional stages have different ecological functions. In this experiment, the BSCs in Shapotou region (at southeast edge of Tengger Desert) were investigated to study crust development and succession through field investigation, microscopic observation combined with quantitative analysis of microbial biomasses. The results showed that BSCs in this region generally developed and succeeded from algal crusts, lichen crusts to moss crusts.

[Response of the artificial cyanobacterial crusts to low temperature and light stress and the micro-structure changes under laboratory conditions].

Low temperature and light are noticeable environmental conditions commonly experienced by cyanobacterial crusts growing in desert areas. Here we reported the effects of low temperature and light on the morphology, physiological characteristics and ultrastructural changes of artificial cyanobacterial crust. Firstly artificial cyanobacterial crusts were formed by inoculating Microcoleus vaginatus Gom.

Non-rainfall water sources in the topsoil and their changes during formation of man-made algal crusts at the eastern edge of Qubqi Desert, Inner Mongolia.

In arid and semiarid areas, water uptake (non-rainfall water) serves as an important water source for plants, biological soil crusts, insects and small animals. In this study, a measurement program was undertaken to investigate water uptake and its changes during formation of man-made algal crusts in the Qubqi Desert. In the study region, water uptake from the atmosphere accounted for 25.