Dissertation Research: Can Enrichment of Micronutrients Help Restore Biological Soil Crusts to Desertified Landscapes?

论文研究：微量营养素的富集可以帮助恢复荒漠化景观的生物土壤结皮吗？

• 批准号: 0608277
• 负责人: Nancy Johnson
• 金额: $ 1.12万
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-06-15 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0608277&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Enrichment; Micronutrients; Help

In the dry regions of the world, the soil surface is covered by biological soil crusts which prevent erosion, create and maintain soil fertility, and influence where water moves and is retained on the landscape. Biological soil crusts can be thought of as a large 'package' of ecosystem function that is easily lost due to widespread surface disturbances. Previous studies indicate that greater availability of micronutrients in the soils may promote recovery of degraded soil crusts. To test this hypothesis, two experiments will be conducted: one focusing on a key crust lichen species grown in a greenhouse, the other focusing on the whole crust community in the field. Response of crust organisms will be monitored following various fertilizer additions, including manipulations of the micronutrients Zn and Mn. A new biochemical technique involving fatty acids will be developed to measure the status of biological soil crusts. Finally, five existing large-scale datasets will be examined using a statistical modeling approach to test the hypothesis that micronutrients limit biological soil crusts in multiple arid regions of North America. Desertification adversely impacts ~20% of the Earth's population, and new tools to combat it are desperately needed. Healthy soils are the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems. It is hoped that by finding ways to promote recovery of biological soil crusts, we can restore function to degraded arid ecosystems and find ways to slow desertification.

在世界干旱地区，土壤表面覆盖着生物土壤结皮，防止侵蚀，创造和保持土壤肥力，并影响水在景观中的流动和保留。生物土壤结皮可以被认为是一个大的生态系统功能的“包”，很容易失去，由于广泛的表面干扰。以往的研究表明，土壤中微量营养素的更大的可用性可能会促进退化土壤结皮的恢复。为了验证这一假设，将进行两个实验：一个集中在一个关键的地壳地衣物种生长在温室中，另一个集中在整个地壳社区在外地。将监测各种肥料添加后，包括微量营养元素锌和锰的操作的结壳生物的反应。将开发一种新的生物化学技术，包括脂肪酸，以测量生物土壤结皮的状况。最后，五个现有的大规模数据集将使用统计建模方法进行检查，以测试在北美多个干旱地区的微量营养素限制生物土壤结壳的假设。荒漠化对地球上约20%的人口产生了不利影响，迫切需要新的防治荒漠化的工具。健康的土壤是陆地生态系统的基础。人们希望，通过设法促进生物土壤结皮的恢复，我们能够恢复退化的干旱生态系统的功能，并设法减缓荒漠化。