Summer and autumn photosynthetic activity in High Arctic biological soil crusts and their winter recovery.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Biological soil crusts, found in arid and semi-arid areas worldwide, play a crucial role in the carbon cycle. This study analyzed biocrusts from three different altitudes in Svalbard (High Arctic) in 2022-2024.

Methods and results

Monitoring of microclimatic parameters, including irradiance, humidity, air, and soil temperature, revealed unexpected extremes at the lowest elevation site. Molecular methods were used to determine the diversity of microalgae, revealing the presence of Trebouxiophyceae and Chlorophyceae as the dominant eukaryotic algal groups. Among the cyanobacteria, the dominant taxonomical groups were Nostocales, Pseudanabaenales, and Oscillatoriales. Measured photosynthetic activity was largely driven by irradiance across the different seasons and

SUBMITTER: Hejdukova E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12689970 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature