Restoring Biogeochemical Properties in Drylands and Exploring Functional Roles of Biological Soil Crust
Abstract
Degradation in dryland regions is a persistent and accelerating problem. Though the mechanisms that initiate and maintain dryland degradation have been well studied, restoring productivity and function to degraded dryland ecosystems remains difficult. Here, I present three chapters that address gaps in our understanding of dryland functions and our ability to restore them. I begin by examining how dryland restoration research has addressed altered biogeochemical cycling in drylands and how to expand current understandings of dryland biogeochemistry into restoration. I then present two chapters that explore mechanistic and quantitative understandings of the contribution of biocrusts to soil nutrient cycling both now and under altered precipitation regimes. Taken together, this dissertation contributes to highlighting the overlap between biogeochemical understandings in drylands and efforts to restore altered biogeochemical landscapes within degraded regions.
Subject Area
Ecology|Climate Change|Biogeochemistry|Soil sciences|Geobiology
Recommended Citation
Young, Kristina E, "Restoring Biogeochemical Properties in Drylands and Exploring Functional Roles of Biological Soil Crust" (2021). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI28713804.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI28713804