Subjects: Geosciences >> Geography submitted time 2024-06-12 Cooperative journals: 《干旱区研究》
LEI Feiya
LI Xiaoshuang
TAO Ye
YIN Benfeng
RONG Xiaoying
ZHANG Jing
LU Yongxing
GUO Xing
ZHOU Xiaobing
ZHANG Yuanming。
Abstract： Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are the main active groundcover community in arid regions. BSCs can significantly affect the material cycle and energy exchange, improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of surface soil, and influence the soil multifunctionality (SMF). Moss crust is an important type of BSCs. This study investigates the SMF variability of moss crust-covered and bare sand in the deserts of northwestern arid regions, and explored the main drivers of the variability. We analyzed eight crucial ecosystem function indicators. SMF was calculated by applying the mean method and factor analysis approach. We used the ordinary least square and structural equation modeling to explore the drivers of SMF changes. The results show that: (1) soil monofunctionality and SMF under moss crust cover were higher than those in bare sand (P<0.05). (2) The drivers of the SMF change in bare sand and under moss crust cover were very different. The main drivers of SMF in bare sand were aridity and soil water content, whereas the driver of SMF under moss crust cover was soil sand content(Sand). (3) The mean annual temperature had the largest indirect effect on changes in SMF for both soil in bare sand and under moss crust cover. Therefore, the development of moss crust significantly increased SMF and, in addition, modulated the relevant drivers of SMF. Our results are important for a deep understanding of the differences and drivers of SMF in desert soil with bare sand and under moss crust cover
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