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This volume summarizes our current understanding of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), which are omnipresent in dryland regions. Since they cover the soil surface, they influence, or even control, all surface exchange processes. Being one of the oldest terrestrial communities, biocrusts comprise a high diversity of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens and bryophytes together with uncounted bacteria, and fungi. The authors show that biocrusts are an integral part of dryland ecosystems, stabilizing soils, influencing plant germination and growth, and playing a key role in carbon, nitrogen and water cycling. Initial attempts have been made to use biocrusts as models in ecological theory. On the other hand, biocrusts are endangered by local disruptions and global change, highlighting the need for enhanced recovery methods. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the fascinating field of biocrust research, making it indispensable not only for scientists in this area, but also for land managers, policy makers, and anyone interested in the environment.

Nature protection --- Geology. Earth sciences --- Biogeography --- General ecology and biosociology --- Biology --- Animal ethology and ecology. Sociobiology --- Pedology --- bodemkunde --- algen --- geobiologie --- bodembescherming --- biogeografie --- biologie --- ecologie --- natuurbescherming --- milieubescherming

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As a reader of this book you will become familiar with current, up-to-date comprehensive knowledge about all classes of eukaryotic algae, the cyanobacteria, and symbiotic interactions of algae and cyanobacteria with other organisms. For example, the lichens are symbiotic consortia and a prominent example of a particularly successful ‘evolution by cooperation’. We expand even to the beginnings of terrestrial plant life and the bryophytes, which are gradually transmitting to the vascular plants. We collectively call this enormous phylogenetic wealth of photoautotrophic organisms the ‘new cryptogams’, abandoning the traditional definition of cryptogams. The new cryptogams are all those autotrophic organisms that share being hydro-passive, meaning that they are unable of controlling water uptake or release, in contrast to vascular plants. While being basal of and phylogenetically much more diverse than the vascular plants, the new cryptogams are ecologically highly relevant in all ecosystems of our Planet. They are responsible for more than half of the Earth’s annual oxygen production. The editors Burkhard Büdel, born in 1953, with courses of studies in chemistry and biology at the universities of Darmstadt and Marburg/Lahn, received his doctoral degree from the latter in 1986. Habilitation at the university of Würzburg in 1993. Professorships at the universities of Rostock (1995-1997) and, until retirement (2019), Kaiserslautern. Exploring expeditions to all continents, including both polar regions. Major research fields: ecology and ecophysiology of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes; systematics and taxonomy of cyanobacteria and lichens. Thomas Friedl, born in 1960, with courses of studies in biology at the universities of München, Marburg/Lahn, and Bayreuth, received his doctoral degree from the latter in 1989, is professor at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen since 1999. There he teaches about algae, performs research in the fields of biodiversity, systematics, and culture maintenance of algae and cyanobacteria. He is the scientific director of the renowned culture collection of algae at the university of Göttingen (SAG). Wolfram Beyschlag, born in 1953, with courses of studies in chemistry and biology at the universities of Kiel, Erlangen-Nürnberg and Würzburg. Doctoral degree (1985) and habilitation (1990) at the university of Würzburg. Since 1994 full professor for Experimental and Systems Ecology at the university of Bielefeld. Retired in 2019. Several research projects in the Mediterranean, the Western US, and the Central American Tropics. Main research topics: physiological ecology of higher plants and cryptogams, plant-plant and plant-animal interactions, ecological modelling. Long-term teaching experience on mosses and lichens. .

Botany. --- Plant Science.

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With one volume each year, this series keeps scientists and advanced students informed of the latest developments and results in all areas of the plant sciences. The present volume includes reviews on genetics, cell biology, physiology, comparative morphology, systematics, ecology, and vegetation science.

Botany -- Periodicals. --- Botany. --- Plants -- Periodicals. --- Plants. --- Botany --- Earth & Environmental Sciences --- Botany - General --- Botanical science --- Phytobiology --- Phytography --- Phytology --- Plant biology --- Plant science --- Life sciences. --- Plant science. --- Life Sciences. --- Plant Sciences. --- Biology --- Natural history --- Plants --- Floristic botany