Abstract. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts hereafter) cover a substantial proportion of the dryland ecosystem and play crucial roles in ecological processes such as biogeochemical cycles, water distribution, and soil erosion. Consequently, studying the spatial distribution of biocrusts holds great significance for drylands, especially on a global scale, but it remains limited. This study aimed to simulate global-scale investigations of biocrust distribution by introducing three major approaches, namely spectral characterization indices, dynamic vegetation models, and geospatial models, while discussing their applicability. We then summarized the present understanding of the factors influencing biocrust distribution. Finally, to further advance this field, we proposed several potential research topics and directions, including the development of a standardized biocrust database, enhancement of non-vascular vegetation dynamic models, integration of multi-sensor monitoring, extensive use of machine learning, and a focus on regional research co-development. This work will significantly contribute to mapping the biocrust distribution and thereby advance our understanding of dryland ecosystem management and restoration.

中文翻译：

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推进全球生物结壳分布研究


摘要。生物土壤结皮（以下简称生物结皮）覆盖了旱地生态系统的很大一部分，并在生物地球化学循环、水分分配和土壤侵蚀等生态过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。因此，研究生物结皮的空间分布对旱地具有重要意义，尤其是在全球范围内，但仍然有限。本研究旨在通过引入光谱特征指数、动态植被模型和地理空间模型三种主要方法，同时讨论它们的适用性，模拟全球尺度的生物结壳分布研究。然后，我们总结了目前对影响生物结皮分布因素的理解。最后，为了进一步推进这一领域，我们提出了几个潜在的研究课题和方向，包括开发标准化的生物结皮数据库、增强非维管植被动态模型、集成多传感器监测、广泛使用机器学习以及关注区域研究共同开发。这项工作将极大地有助于绘制生物结皮分布图，从而促进我们对旱地生态系统管理和恢复的理解。