Biological soil crusts modulate nitrogen availability in semi-arid ecosystems: Insights from a Mediterranean grassland

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) greatly influence the N cycle of semi-arid ecosystems, as some organisms forming them are able to fix atmospheric N. However, BSCs are not always taken into account when studying biotic controls on N cycling and transformations. Our main objective was to understand how BSCs modulate the availability of N in a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem dominated by the tussock grass Stipa tenacissima. We selected the six most frequent soil cover types in the study area: S. tenacissima tussocks (ST), Retama sphaerocarpa shrubs (RS), and open areas with very low (BS), low (LC) medium (MC) and high (HC) cover of well developed and lichen-dominated BSCs. The temporal dynamics of available N dynamics followed changes in soil moisture. Available NH₄⁺-N did not differ between microsites, while available NO₃^--N was substantially higher in the RS than in any other microsite. No significant differences in the amount of available NO₃^--N were found between ST and BS microsites, but these microsites had more NO₃^--N than those dominated by BSCs (LC, MC and HC). Our results suggest that BSCs may be inhibiting nitrification, and highlight the importance of this biotic community as a modulator of the availability of N in semi-arid ecosystems.