Three-dimensional structure and cyanobacterial activity within a desert biological soil crust
- authored by
- Hagai Raanan, Vincent J.M.N.L. Felde, Stephan Peth, Sylvie Drahorad, Danny Ionescu, Gil Eshkol, Haim Treves, Peter Felix-Henningsen, Simon M. Berkowicz, Nir Keren, Rainer Horn, Martin Hagemann, Aaron Kaplan
- Abstract
Desert biological soil crusts (BSCs) are formed by adhesion of soil particles to polysaccharides excreted by filamentous cyanobacteria, the pioneers and main producers in this habitat. Biological soil crust destruction is a central factor leading to land degradation and desertification. We study the effect of BSC structure on cyanobacterial activity. Micro-scale structural analysis using X-ray microtomography revealed a vesiculated layer 1.5-2.5mm beneath the surface in close proximity to the cyanobacterial location. Light profiles showed attenuation with depth of 1%-5% of surface light within 1mm but also revealed the presence of 'light pockets', coinciding with the vesiculated layer, where the irradiance was 10-fold higher than adjacent crust parts at the same depth. Maximal photosynthetic activity, examined by O2 concentration profiles, was observed 1mm beneath the surface and another peak in association with the 'light pockets'. Thus, photosynthetic activity may not be visible to currently used remote sensing techniques, suggesting that BSCs' contribution to terrestrial productivity is underestimated. Exposure to irradiance higher than 10% full sunlight diminished chlorophyll fluorescence, whereas O2 evolution and CO2 uptake rose, indicating that fluorescence did not reflect cyanobacterial photosynthetic activity. Our data also indicate that although resistant to high illumination, the BSC-inhabiting cyanobacteria function as 'low-light adapted' organisms.
- External Organisation(s)
-
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI)
Justus Liebig University Giessen
University of Kassel
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Kiel University
University of Rostock
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Environmental microbiology
- Volume
- 18
- Pages
- 372-383
- No. of pages
- 12
- ISSN
- 1462-2912
- Publication date
- 01.02.2016
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 15 - Life on Land
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12859 (Access:
Closed)
