Ecology of Bryophytes in Mojave Desert Biological Soil Crusts: Effects of Elevated CO<span class='sub'>2</span> on Sex Expression, Stress Tolerance, and Productivity in the Moss <span class='italic'>Syntrichia caninervis</span> Mitt.

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511779701.010

9 - Ecology of Bryophytes in Mojave Desert Biological Soil Crusts: Effects of Elevated CO2 on Sex Expression, Stress Tolerance, and Productivity in the Moss Syntrichia caninervis Mitt.

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2012

John C. Brinda and

Edited by

Nancy G. Slack and

John C. Brinda: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, USA
Catherine Fernando: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, USA
Nancy G. Slack: Affiliation:
Sage Colleges, New York
Lloyd R. Stark: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Introduction

The arid shrublands and open woodlands of the North American deserts generally support a sparse vascular plant cover. In these and similar environments, the surfaces unoccupied by taller vascular plant species are often colonized by a unique assemblage of organisms collectively referred to as “biological soil crusts” (Belnap & Lange 2003). This assemblage is extremely diverse phylogenetically, including various species of cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, and lichens as well as bryophytes. These disparate species have been thrown together under one umbrella label due to the specialized niche that they inhabit. Their small size and close association with the soil surface make the term “biological soil crust” particularly appropriate.

Biological soil crusts have received a fair amount of attention and study but bryophytes represent one of the less well understood aspects of this community. In arid landscapes like the Mojave Desert, the bryophyte component in soil crusts is generally made up of mosses in the family Pottiaceae (e.g., species in the genera Syntrichia, Pterygoneurum, Crossidium, Didymodon, and Tortula). In his monographic treatment of the family, Zander (1993) states that the Pottiaceae form a conspicuous part of the vegetation of arid, ruderal, alpine, and Arctic areas. These are also conditions under which biological soil crusts can play a prominent role. As characteristic inhabitants of these extreme environments, bryophytes of biological soil crusts exhibit many morphological and physiological adaptations to stress that remain poorly understood (Zander 1993).

Type: Chapter
Information: Bryophyte Ecology and Climate Change , pp. 169 - 190

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511779701.010 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2011

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9 - Ecology of Bryophytes in Mojave Desert Biological Soil Crusts: Effects of Elevated CO2 on Sex Expression, Stress Tolerance, and Productivity in the Moss Syntrichia caninervis Mitt.

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