Lichens occur in most terrestrial ecosystems; they are often present as minor contributors,
but in some forests, drylands and tundras they can make up most of the ground layer …

Biocrusts play crucial roles in hydrological processes by controlling soil water availability
and regulating water redistribution from source to sink areas. Most studies have examined …

The capture and use of water are critically important in drylands, which collectively constitute
Earth's largest biome. Drylands will likely experience lower and more unreliable rainfall as …

The biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are interlinked
by primary production, respiration and decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. It has been …

In this perspectives paper we highlight a heretofore underused statistical method in soil
ecological research, structural equation modeling (SEM). SEM is commonly used in the …

Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem of the Loess Plateau, China. As an important
project for soil and water conservation in the semi-arid environment, the Grain-for-Green …

Drylands cover about 40% of the terrestrial land surface and account for approximately 40%
of global net primary productivity. Water is fundamental to the biophysical processes that …

Understanding the importance of biotic interactions in driving the distribution and
abundance of species is a central goal of plant ecology. Early vascular plants likely …

The adaptation of plants to particular soil types has long intrigued biologists. Gypsum soils
occupy large areas in many regions of the world and host a striking biological diversity, but …

Soil crusts influence many soil parameters that affect how water moves into and through the
soil, and therefore, critically influence water availability, erosion processes, nutrient fluxes …