Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play important roles in ecosystem functioning and are considered ecosystem engineers: stabilizing the soil surface, preventing soil erosion, changing soil surface hydrology, and enriching the soil with carbon and nitrogen. The link between geodiversity and biodiversity incorporates physical aspects from geology, geomorphology and pedology. We aimed to assess the effects of hillslope geodiversity on the cover, composition and biophysiological properties of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) in a dryland ecosystem. The geodiversity of the hillslope is determined by the stone cover on the ground surface, the content, stones in the soil profile, and the soil depth. It is known from the scientific literature that geodiversity affects biodiversity; thus, we hypothesized that the hillslope type may affect biocrust properties that develop on these hillslopes. The results indicate that the mean covers of biocrust types in the homogeneous (low geodiversity) hillslopes were 60.6% cyanobacterial crusts and 39.4% biocrusts composed of cyanobacteria, moss and lichens, whereas those of the heterogeneous (high geodiversity) hillslopes were 81.6% cyanobacterial crusts and 18.4% biocrusts composed of cyanobacteria, moss and lichens. It was concluded that geodiversity enhances the growth of biocrust species that require higher soil moisture. The results imply that wherever restoration activities are planned, and especially in drylands, the geodiversity of the area should be taken into account.

中文翻译：

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山坡地质多样性对旱地生物土壤结皮特性和组成的影响

生物土壤结皮（生物结皮）在生态系统功能中发挥着重要作用，被认为是生态系统工程师：稳定土壤表面、防止水土流失、改变土壤表面水文、使土壤富含碳和氮。地质多样性和生物多样性之间的联系包含了地质学、地貌学和土壤学的物理方面。我们旨在评估山坡地质多样性对旱地生态系统中生物土壤结皮（生物结皮）的覆盖、组成和生物生理特性的影响。山坡的地质多样性由地表的石质覆盖层、含量、土壤剖面中的石块和土层深度决定。从科学文献中可知，地质多样性影响生物多样性；因此，我们假设山坡类型可能会影响在这些山坡上形成的生物地壳特性。结果表明，均质（低地质多样性）山坡生物地壳类型的平均覆盖率为60.6%的蓝藻结壳和39.4%的蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成的生物地壳，而异质（高地质多样性）山坡的生物地壳类型为81.6%的蓝藻结壳。 18.4% 的生物结皮由蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成。得出的结论是，地质多样性促进了需要较高土壤水分的生物结皮物种的生长。结果表明，无论在何处规划恢复活动，尤其是在旱地，都应考虑该地区的地质多样性。结果表明，均质（低地质多样性）山坡生物地壳类型的平均覆盖率为60.6%的蓝藻结壳和39.4%的蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成的生物地壳，而异质（高地质多样性）山坡的生物地壳类型为81.6%的蓝藻结壳。 18.4% 的生物结皮由蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成。得出的结论是，地质多样性促进了需要较高土壤水分的生物结皮物种的生长。结果表明，无论在何处规划恢复活动，尤其是在旱地，都应考虑该地区的地质多样性。结果表明，均质（低地质多样性）山坡生物地壳类型的平均覆盖率为60.6%的蓝藻结壳和39.4%的蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成的生物地壳，而异质（高地质多样性）山坡的生物地壳类型为81.6%的蓝藻结壳。 18.4% 的生物结皮由蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成。得出的结论是，地质多样性促进了需要较高土壤水分的生物结皮物种的生长。结果表明，无论在何处规划恢复活动，尤其是在旱地，都应考虑该地区的地质多样性。6% 的蓝藻结皮和 18.4% 的由蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成的生物结皮。得出的结论是，地质多样性促进了需要较高土壤水分的生物结皮物种的生长。结果表明，无论在何处规划恢复活动，尤其是在旱地，都应考虑该地区的地质多样性。6% 的蓝藻结皮和 18.4% 的由蓝藻、苔藓和地衣组成的生物结皮。得出的结论是，地质多样性促进了需要较高土壤水分的生物结皮物种的生长。结果表明，无论在何处规划恢复活动，尤其是在旱地，都应考虑该地区的地质多样性。