Inhalt

I Taxonomic Composition, Ecology, and Biogeography of Soil-Crust Communities.- 1 Biological Soil Crusts: Characteristics and Distribution.- 2 Biological Soil Crusts of North America.- 3 Biological Soil Crusts of South America.- 4 Lichen-Rich Soil Crusts of Arctic Greenland.- 5 Biological Soil Crusts of the Subalpine, Alpine, and Nival Areas in the Alps.- 6 Biological Soil Crusts of European Temperate and Mediterranean Regions.- 7 Biological Soil Crusts of Asia Including the Don and Volga Region.- 8 Biological Soil Crusts of the Middle East.- 9 Biological Soil Crusts of Africa.- 10 Biological Soil Crusts of Australia.- 11 Biological Soil Crusts of Antarctica.- 12 Synopsis: Comparative Biogeography and Ecology of Soil-Crust Biota.- II Heterotrophic Components of Biological Soil Crusts.- 13 Soil Fungi as Components of Biological Soil Crusts.- 14 Microbes and Microfauna Associated with Biological Soil Crusts.- III Structure of Biological Soil Crusts: Microscale to Landscape.- 15 Comparative Structure of Physical and Biological Soil Crusts.- 16 Small Scale Environments and Distribution of Biological Soil Crusts.- 17 Ecological Determinants of Species Composition of Biological Soil Crusts on a Landscape Scale.- IV Biological Soil Crusts as an Ecosystem Component: Carbon and Nitrogen Acquisition and Interaction with Vascular Plants.- 18 Photosynthesis of Soil-Crust Biota as Dependent on Environmental Factors.- 19 Factors Influencing Nitrogen Fixation and Nitrogen Release in Biological Soil Crusts.- 20 Biological Soil Crusts and Ecosystem Nitrogen and Carbon Dynamics.- 21 Influence of Biological Soil Crusts on Soil Environments and Vascular Plants.- V Soil Stability and Hydrology as Influenced by Soil Crusts.- 22 Effects of Biological Soil Crusts on Water Redistribution in the Negev Desert, Israel: Case Study in Longitudinal Dunes.- 23 Biological Soil Crusts and Water Relations in Australian Deserts.- 24 Biological Soil Crusts and Hydrology in North American Deserts.- 25 Biological Soil Crusts and Wind Erosion.- 26 Synopsis: Influence of Biological Soil Crusts on Arid Land Hydrology and Soil Stability.- VI Disturbance to Biological Soil Crusts: Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration.- 27 Disturbance and Recovery of Biological Soil Crusts.- 28 Impacts of Fire on Biological Soil Crusts.- VII Monitoring and Management of Biological Soil Crusts.- 29 Biological Soil Crusts and Livestock in Arid Ecosystems: Are they Compatible?.- 30 Global Change and the Future of Biological Soil Crusts.- 31 Remote Sensing of Biological Soil Crusts.- 32 Monitoring and Management of Biological Soil Crusts.- VIII Conclusion.- 33 Structure and Functioning of Biological Soil Crusts: Synthesis.- Taxonomic Index.