Geodermatophilia

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Seeking a Master's student: biocrust biodiversity,...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:44:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Seeking a Master's student: biocrust biodiversity,...: Syntrichia caninervis , one of the stars of the new project (image: Jepson Herbarium, UC Berkely) The School of Forestry, Northern A...

Biocrusts on SciShow

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:34:00 +0000

Her's our collaborator Rebecca Durham of MPG Ranch in Montana, talking about biocrusts of Montana on SciShow, an internet-based science talk show. Enjoy....

BioCrust3 Abstract & Financial Assistance Deadline is Approaching!!

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Wed, 11 May 2016 21:42:00 +0000

Dear all,

In September you'll have the opportunity to meet biocrust researchers and enthusiasts from around the world in one of the crustiest locations anywhere, Moab Utah. You will have a chance to hear Dr. Jayne Belnap tell us how she became the researcher that she is - a foundation in our field. You will hear an overview of the past, present, and future of our field from Bettina Weber, editor of the upcoming Springer-Verlag Ecological Studies Series Book "Biological soil crusts: an organizing principle in drylands". You will hear plenary talks from the likes of Fernando Maestre and Trent Northen, on the current cutting edge research. You will enjoy organized symposia on climate change, ecological restoration, and molecular frontiers.You will enjoy a dinner on the banks of the Colorado River. You will have the chance to see the biocrusts in their home in the Canyonlands of Utah.

It sounds good, doesn't it?

It all starts with submitting your abstract by May 16 2016. Please do so as soon as you can.

Also, if finances are preventing your attendance, please apply for financial assistance by the same date.

Instructions appear in the message below. Thanks much!

September 26-30, 2016 - Moab, Utah, USA

Deadlines for Abstracts and Financial Assistance Applications is May 16, 2016

We know the end of the school year is a hectic time for all of you who teach or are students, but wanted to gently remind you that the deadline is drawing near for submitting your abstract and/or financial assistance application. We are looking forward to a great meeting and hope to see YOU in Moab in September!

Abstract Submission Guidelines: http://www.nau.edu/Merriam-Powell/BioCrust3/Abstract-Submission/

Request Financial Assistance: http://www.nau.edu/Merriam-Powell/BioCrust3/Financial-Assitance/

Visa Information & Invitation Letter: The organizers of the Third International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts encourage you to familiarize yourself with visa and travel requirements well in advance of the conference. Visitors to the United States must have a valid passport. A visa is also required for citizens of countries that do not participate with the Visa Waiver Program. The process may take 3 to 4 months to obtain a visa. To request a letter, please email BioCrust3@nau.edu.

Online Registration is NOW open (single-day registration available): http://www.nau.edu/Merriam-Powell/BioCrust3/Registration/

Questions & Sponsorship Information: Please contact BioCrust3@nau.edu.

The conference organizers would be grateful if you would share this announcement with your organization, colleagues, and students. Thank you!! If you receive this message more than once, we apologize for the inconvenience. Colleagues across the world have generously shared their mailing lists. Thanks for your understanding.

We hope to see you in September!

Big thanks to our sponsors:

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: New Blog Feature: Web Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:59:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: New Blog Feature: Web Apps: To explore new dimensions of science communication and data visualization, the Bowker Lab group is now developing informative web apps for a...

How Life Arrives on Glacier Barrens

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 16:58:00 +0000

How Life Arrives on Glacier Barrens

Lest we forget that some of the pre-1980s mentions of biocrusts were in the context of post-glacial succession.

Biocrust modulation of dryland climate change impacts: Synthesizing and contrasting two recent papers

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 16:08:00 +0000

We are already accumulating evidence that biocrusts and soil microbial abundance and diversity are sensitive to climate change, in a string of high-profile papers (Reed et al. 2012, Ferrenberg et al. 2015, Maestre et al. 2015). Decreases in biocrust or microbial abundance or diversity might be expected to lead to reduced ecosystem function in drylands as they warm. Warming in and of itself may affect biota and their functions, but it is important to note that warming is also drying due the the effect of temperature on evapotranspiration, and this may be an even more important climate change impact than temperature per se.

Two other recent papers are suggesting either a buffering of negative climate change impacts on dryland soils by biocrusts, or a pronounced warming increase in soils induced by biocrust succession. The papers do not necessarily conflict, in fact they are very different in their goals and the data collected, but they do make a fascinating contrast that leads to some cool questions.

Biocrusts to the rescue?

In Delgado-Baquerizo et al. 2015, dryland soils were collected along aridity gradients in three continents: North America (USA), Europe (Spain), and Australia. Within each site sampled, biocrusts dominated by mosses were present, so the surveyors sampled microsites underneath the moss biocrusts and in uncrusted areas in each site. They measured indicators of C, N, and P cycling, and also aggregated all of these indicators into a multi functionality index. In semi-arid to arid ecosystems, they found that climate does negatively impact nutrient cycling indicators and multi functionality, supporting the general expectation of negative impacts of warming (and drying) on dryland function. The cool thing was that the presence of moss-dominated biocrusts dampened the negative effects of warmer, drier climate. This was especially so in the driest sites sampled where mosses appear to substantially increase ecosystem function relative to uncrusted areas. Also noteworthy was that the abundance of microbes was greater underneath the biocrusts, and this was linkable to the boost in ecosystem function.

Do biocrusts exacerbate global warming effects?

Couradeau et al. 2016 just last week published their results regarding biocrust effects on albedo and soil warming. They focused on cyanobacterial biocrusts from a single site on the Colorado Plateau, and explicitly focused on the successional progression from "light crust" (highly dominated by Microcoleus vaginatus) to "dark crust" (with a visible presence of Nostoc, Scytonema, and Tolypothrix). This latter group of genera is important because, in contrast to Microcoleus which can actually move underneath soil particles, they are surface-bound and unable to shelter from intense light exposure on the soil surface. Thus, they invest heavily in sunscreen pigments which are responsible for the darkening appearance of biocrusts. The outcomes of the darkening are impressive. The authors report that dark biocrusts are up to 10 degrees C warmer than light biocrusts! This alteration of the soil climate goes on to induce a shift in the dominant species of the biocrust from Microcoleus vaginatus to the more thermotolerant Microcoleus steenstrupii. The authors make no statements about nutrient cycling or multifunctionality.

Gradient of light to dark biocrusts (source: soil crust.org)

Comparing these two studies brings up many interesting questions:
1. Are moss biocrusts warmer, cooler, or the same temperature as uncrusted microsites? Could they be buffering underlying soil from climate fluctuations?

2. Is cyanobacterial succession decreasing soil function through its effect on warming? We generally perceive dark cyanobacterial biocrusts to be more functional than light cyanobacterial biocrusts - greater stability, greater N-fixation, greater biological activity in general. Is this because of, or in spite of, their warming effect on soil? What would the Couradeau et al. have seen if they measured the same nutrient cycling indices as Delgado-Baquerizo et al.?

3. What might we gain from combining what both groups of authors have done? A multi-continent study along aridity gradients comparing the microbial composition and functionality in soils under biocrusts ranging from incipient cyanobacterial biocrusts to successionally more mature moss and lichen assemblages. Seems like a worthy target for a network approach!

What do you think?

3rd International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts SAVE THE DATE!

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 18:13:00 +0000

Please Save the Dates!

September 26-30, 2016 – MOAB, UTAH, USA

The Third International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts (BIOCRUST 3) will bring together international scientists working in disciplines such as physiology; taxonomy and systematics; genetics and genomics; restoration; and population, community, ecosystem and landscape ecology. Within BIOCRUST 3, these different fields are unified by their common interest in biological soil crusts, or biocrusts, as a study system. The meeting will cover the following biocrust topics:

Mapping, monitoring, and management

Structure and function in ecosystems

Diversity, ecology, and biogeography

Taxonomy and physiology of biocrust constituents

Assessment methods

Disturbance and restoration

Interaction with vascular plant vegetation

Effects of global environmental change

As the number of researchers in the field steadily increases and becomes increasingly international, the goal of BIOCRUST 3 is to provide the definitive forum for the productive exchange of ideas and the forging of new collaborations in biocrust research. Conference organizers particularly wish to facilitate attendance by researchers from developing nations and students.

Call for sessions, workshops, and papers information will go out in early 2016. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Conference website: http://www.nau.edu/Merriam-Powell/Biocrust3/

For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact BioCrust3@nau.edu.

Look forward to seeing you in September!

Conference Sponsors: New Phytologist Trust, BYU’s Charles Redd Center for Western Studies and the M.L. Bean Life Science Museum, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Arizona University’s School of Forestry and Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research. (Your name here?)

Astrobiology video

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:23:00 +0000

Great video by Steve Pointing on astrobiology, extremophiles, and our friends the cyanobacteria.

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Publication backlog post….three from earlier this ...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:45:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Publication backlog post….three from earlier this ...: The Spanish post-doctoral power trio is at it again. Somebody hire these men ! Santi & Manu have published the results of our fun and p...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: CRC Features our Biocrust Restoration work

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 16:22:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: CRC Features our Biocrust Restoration work: This fall we set up two experiments at the Canyonlands Research Center. In the first, we transplanted intact biocrusts to three "home&q...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Rooftop Mosscaping Project Begins on the Pods of t...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 16:22:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Rooftop Mosscaping Project Begins on the Pods of t...: Today NAU grounds personnel and representatives from the Bowker Lab kicked off the first installation of biocrust mosses on a campus bui...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Biocrust session in the books. Thanks!

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:07:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Biocrust session in the books. Thanks!: The crusties & entourage taking over Dara Thai. We are stretching all the way to that back wall! Huge thanks to everyone who made t...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Ph.D. Student opening in post-fire restoration usi...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:58:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Ph.D. Student opening in post-fire restoration usi...: The School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, seeks a motivated Ph.D. student to conduct field and greenhouse experiments near Fla...

IAB blog: Simposio de Botanica Criptogamica. Porto, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:13:00 +0000

IAB blog: Simposio de Botanica Criptogamica. Porto, 2015: É com enorme prazer que anunciamos o XX Simpósio de Botânica Criptogâmica a decorrer pela primeira vez no Porto, nos dias 22 a 25 de Julho...

Maestre Lab: Behind the scenes of the Maestre lab (V): Miguel B...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 02:11:00 +0000

Maestre Lab: Behind the scenes of the Maestre lab (V): Miguel B...: We continue with the series of posts describing the “behind the scenes” of the research presented in the articles we publish (you can ...

Biological Soil Crust Science Forum videos and transcripts available

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 04:18:00 +0000

Follow the link to download videos or transcripts. I can't bear to watch a video of myself, so i can't tell you if they're good or not….hope so. Also featured are Drs. Jayne Belnap, Janice Boettinger, Kim Anderson, and Fee Busby. This was an all day event in which panel members answered questions from the public about biocrusts in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The event was meant to summarize the state of knowledge about biocrusts specifically to inform the environmental impact statement for the upcoming grazing plan.

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Biocrust at Hovenweep NM

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 19:40:00 +0000

A repost of Kyle Doherty's post over at the lab site...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Biocrust at Hovenweep NM: I traveled to Hovenweep National Monument today in search of cliff dwellings, but got distracted by the excellent crust communities there! ...

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: New Paper: Community properties and spatial patter...

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:55:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: New Paper: Community properties and spatial patter...: Andrea Castillo-Monroy Aspects of soil lichen biodiversity and aggregation interact to influence subsurface microbial function. Plant So...

Biocrusts in the New York Times

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:18:00 +0000

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/science/on-warmer-planet-range-of-soil-microbes-may-change.html?_r=0

A nice article by Henry Fountain about the findings of the Garcia-Pichel lab that soil crust microbes may migrate in response to climate change. Jayne Belnap is also interviewed about effects of changing precipitation patterns. That's Sergio Valasco Ayuso in the photo.

David Elliot blog

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:41:00 +0000

I just became aware of Dr. David Elliot's (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK) blog. There's a lot of nice content on his biocrust research in the Kalahari Desert (such as this), computer science, and degraded peatland ecology. I recommend having a look.

More on Kalahari crusts here.

Biological soil crust science forum, August 6, Kanab, Utah

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement on their grazing plan. Previously there was a scoping period in which members of the public were invited to submit comments. A major theme in the comments was biocrusts. In response to this, the Monument is organizing a moderated public forum in which a panel will answer questions submitted by the general public. The event will be at the Kanab, Utah city library (9:00 am - 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time), and will also be broadcast live online. I have agreed to join the panel, as have Jayne Belnap, Janis Boettinger, Fee Busby and Kim Anderson.

Official News Release
Lake Powell News Article (this link loads faster)
Agenda
Watch Live online here

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Bowker lab - check us out at ESA next month

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 14:45:00 +0000

Forest-Rangeland Soil Ecology Lab: Bowker lab - check us out at ESA next month: Next month lab members will present new research at the Ecological Society of America Meeting in Sacramento . Kyle Doherty will ...

Post-doc job announcement in Barger Lab, University of Colorado Boulder

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:22:00 +0000

Post-Doctoral Research Associate – University of Colorado Boulder – Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A two-year post-doctoral research associate position will be available in Nichole Barger’s lab at the University of Colorado – Boulder. The successful candidate will work on a newly funded project to examine plant and soil responses to biological soil crust restoration. The post-doctoral research associate will oversee field research at Hill Air Force Base in the Great Basin and Jornada Experimental Range in the Chihuahuan Desert. This work will occur in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of scientists who specialize in soil microbiology (Ferran Garcia-Pichel, Arizona State University), soil ecology (Matthew Bowker, Northern Arizona University and Jayne Belnap USGS), ecosystem ecology (Sasha Reed, USG) and soil science (Mike Duniway, USGS). We are seeking a highly motivated and energetic applicant with specialties in ecosystem ecology/biogeochemistry, plant ecology, or soil ecology. Expertise in aridland ecology is a plus. The start date is flexible ranging from December 2014 through February 2015. If you are interested please send a brief letter of interest and a current CV to Nichole Barger at nichole.barger@colorado.edu.

Direct and indirect impacts of climate change on microbial and biocrust communities alter the resistance of the N cycle in a semiarid grassland DelgadoBaquerizo Journal of Ecology Wiley Online Library

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 15:05:00 +0000

Direct and indirect impacts of climate change on microbial and biocrust communities alter the resistance of the N cycle in a semiarid grassland DelgadoBaquerizo Journal of Ecology Wiley Online Library

Nice new work from Manu in Journal of Ecology

Maestre Lab: Recently accepted articles from the lab

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Bowker) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 23:49:00 +0000

Recent biocrust work led by Raul Ochoa Hueso and Miguel Berdugo see below

Maestre Lab: Recently accepted articles from the lab: Three new papers from the lab have been accepted during the last weeks. They will be published online early during the next weeks/mont...