Microfauna Within Biological Soil Crusts

A variety of microfauna inhabit the biological soil crusts (biocrusts) of arid soils from all parts of the globe, including the southwestern USA (Bamforth 2004, 2008; Darby et al. 2006, 2007a, b; Neher et al. 2009), the Negev Desert of Israel (Jones and Shachak 1990; Pen-Mouratov et al. 2011), the Tengger Desert of northern China (Liu et al. 2011; Li et al. 2011), Australia (Robinson et al. 2002), and Antarctica (Bamforth et al. 2005; Sohlenius et al. 2004; Schwarz et al. 1993; Colesie et al. 2014). The objective of this chapter is to review the literature on microfauna associated with biocrusts and identify the major microfaunal groups that inhabit biocrusts, the functions they perform in the biocrust ecosystem, when they are most active, where they are located in the soil and biocrust profile, and how they are affected by surface disturbances and altered abiotic conditions. We conclude by proposing three research priorities that are most necessary to improving our understanding of the ecology of biocrust microfauna.