The Study of Biological Soil Crusts: Hotspots and Prospects

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), which cover 35% of the continents and exceed 70% of the living cover in parts of region, play important ecological roles in the evolution of soil-water-plant systems in arid and semiarid areas. Since the 1980s, studies of BSCs have become hot topics in physical geography. By reviewing the last 30 years of study reports, the present paper proposes the following future research focus: (1) Understanding the function of BSCs in carbon and nitrogen fixation in the micro-scale (block), monitoring its distribution patterns in the macro-scale (region) by remote sensing technology and geographic information systems, and evaluate the role of carbon and nitrogen fixation in the whole ecological system. The response of BSCs to global climate change should also be evaluated. (2) Studying techniques for the artificial fast cultivation or restoration of BSCs, and implementing engineering propagation and application of artificial BSCs, and determining the appropriate parameters for environmental criteria, including light, temperature, soil water moisture, and fertilizer, among others. Artificial cultivation and rapid propagation techniques could present significant perspectives for engineering applications.