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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Miriam Muñoz-Rojas; Nathali Machado de Lima; Sonia Chamizo; Matthew A. Bowker
Publication Date: 2021

Changes in climate are expected to alter fire regimes, with critical implications in soils and ecosystems. Biological soil crusts or biocrusts are communities of photosynthetic organisms (cyanobacteria, bryophytes, lichens and/or microalgae), and associated bacteria, archaea, and fungi, that have important ecological and biological roles. Recent research has demonstrated that biocrust cyanobacteria and fire mosses can ameliorate some of the most serious problems in burned areas - soil erosion, hydrological disfunction and flooding soils. Novel approaches for ex-situ cultivation and inoculation are now being developed, opening untapped possibilities for using these communities in large-scale post-fire restoration. In this review, we highlight the important roles of biocrusts and discuss their potential for improving soil fertility and stability in post-fire ecosystems.

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Citation: Muñoz-Rojas, Miriam; Machado de Lima, Nathali; Chamizo, Sonia; Bowker, Matthew A. 2021. Restoring post-fire ecosystems with biocrusts: living, photosynthetic soil surfaces. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 23:100273.

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Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    International    National
Keywords:
  • biological soil crusts
  • bryophytes
  • burnt soil
  • cyanobacteria
  • fire moss
  • soil erosion
  • wildfires
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 63590