Biological and microbial activity in biological soil crusts from the Tabernas desert, a sub-arid zone in SE Spain
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Miralles Mellado, Isabel; Domingo Poveda, Francisco; Trasar Cepeda, Carmen; Leirós, María del Carmen; Gil Sotres, FernandoFecha
2012-07-09Resumen
The ecology and functional role of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in arid and semi-arid zones have been
extremely well studied. However, little is known about the biochemical properties related to the number
and activity of the microbiota that form the crusts, even though information about these properties is
very important for understanding many of the processes that affect the formations. In this study, several
properties related to the activity and number of microorganisms (biomass-C, basal respiration,
dehydrogenase activity and nitrogen mineralization potential) were determined at different depths
(crusts, 0-0.5 cm; middle, 0.5-3 cm and deep, 3-5 cm layers) in two types of crusts (predominated by
cyanobacteria and by lichens) in the Tabernas desert (Almeria, SE Spain). The absolute values of the
above-mentioned properties and the values expressed relative to the total organic carbon (TOC) content
were both much higher in the crust layers than in the surface horizons of soi...
Palabra/s clave
Microbial biomass
Soil respiration
Dehydrogenase activity
Soil nitrogen mineralization
Lichens
Cyanobacteria