A detailed study of biocrusts, which can be seen through confocal scanning laser microscopy, reveals the different components, such as soil particles in varying shades of gray and bundles of cyanobacterial filaments in fluorescent red, positioned between them. Credit is given to Penn State for the imaging.
The researchers have introduced a new technique for analyzing microbial activities in moist soil, enhancing the understanding of potential vulnerabilities.
A research team from Penn State employed an innovative approach to observe microbial activity in biological soil crusts, or biocrusts, after moistening. Their recent study sheds light on the vital part microbes play in forming a living layer over many of the world’s semi-arid ecosystems. These small organisms and their created microbiomes are at risk due to climate change.
The study has been published in Frontiers of Microbiology.
Estelle Couradeau, Penn State assistant professor of soils and environmental microbiology, shared that biocrusts cover nearly 12% of Earth’s land surface, and they anticipate a decline of 25% to 40% within 65 years owing to climate change and intensified land use. She expressed hope that this research will guide understanding of microbial functions that enhance biocrust resilience against quickly changing climate patterns and more frequent droughts.
Biological soil crusts are complex organism structures that create a perennial, well-structured surface layer in soils. They are found globally in places where water scarcity limits common plant growth but still allows for microorganism growth that performs essential ecosystem services like carbon and nitrogen fixation, nutrient recycling, and soil particle binding.
An important feature of biocrusts is their soil-stabilizing function, according to Couradeau. This function prevents erosion and soil breakdown into dust, an area that has been a focus of intensive study for her team at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences for a decade.
Couradeau also highlighted that most dust is produced in drylands, and biocrust presence significantly reduces dust emission, a loss of which could lead to a 5% to 15% global increase. This would have repercussions for climate, environment, and human health.
In regions where biocrusts are found, various microorganisms such as mosses, lichens, green algae, cyanobacteria, other bacteria, and fungi live. These organisms may encounter only a few precipitation events annually, as explained by doctoral candidate Ryan Trexler, who led the research.
Trexler described how microbes in the soil usually remain dormant in dry conditions, but rapidly become active within seconds to minutes when exposed to water. This cycle of activity and dormancy repeats with each rain event.
The researchers studied biocrust samples taken from the Colorado Plateau near Moab, Utah. They collected samples during fall after rain that activated the microbes, dried them, stored them in the dark, and rewetted them later for analysis.
A method called BONCAT, coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, helped to identify the active microorganisms within the soil community. Along with shotgun metagenomic sequencing, they profiled the diversity and potential functional capabilities of both active and inactive microorganisms in biocrust communities after a simulated rain event. This approach allowed them to distinguish between active and inactive microorganisms in moist biocrusts.
The paper, titled “BONCAT-FACS-Seq reveals the active fraction of a biocrust community undergoing a wet-up event,” was published on 26 June 2023 in Frontiers in Microbiology, with DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1176751.
The researchers found differences in species richness and composition between the active and inactive components of the biocrust community at both four hours and 21 hours after the wetting event.
Several contributors from institutions including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology assisted with the research.
The U.S. Department of Energy provided support for this research.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: biocrusts
What are biocrusts and why are they important?
Biocrusts are complex organism structures that form a perennial, well-organized surface layer in soils, especially in semi-arid regions where water shortage limits the growth of common plants. They perform valuable ecosystem services such as carbon and nitrogen fixation, nutrient recycling, and holding soil particles together, which helps prevent erosion and dust.
How are biocrusts threatened by climate change?
Biocrusts are threatened by climate change and land-use intensification, which can lead to a decrease in their coverage of about 25% to 40% within 65 years. The loss of biocrusts can increase global dust emission and deposition, affecting climate patterns, environmental conditions, and human health.
What innovative methods were used by the researchers to study biocrusts?
The researchers from Penn State used a combination of techniques, including bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. This allowed them to profile the diversity and functional capabilities of both active and inactive microorganisms within the biocrust community after being resuscitated by simulated rain.
Where were the biocrust samples taken for the study?
The biocrust samples were taken from three plots of undisturbed, cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts located on the Colorado Plateau near Moab, Utah. The samples were collected in the fall following rain that wetted the soil sufficiently to activate the microbes.
Who supported and contributed to this research?
The research was led by a team from Penn State, with contributions from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and others. The U.S. Department of Energy supported this research.
More about fokus keyword: biocrusts
- Frontiers in Microbiology
- Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
6 comments
This study is really eye-opening! Climate change affects even the smallest things like biocrusts. Hope we find ways to protect ’em soon!
I’m from Moab, Utah! Its good to see that place being used for something important. the techniques they’re using seem very advanced too.
Wow, didnt know that biocrusts were such a big part of our environment. these researchers are doing something really special
Climate change is threatening everything even the soils? I hope we start taking more actions, its scary what’s happening to our planet.
So, these biocrust things. are they like super important to our ecosystem or just a small part i’m not sure i get it all. But it’s interesting stuff.
Amazing how they can study something so small and find big answers. Technology has sure come a long way kudos to Penn State.