Jayne Belnap (U.S. Geological Survey inMoab, Utah), Otto Ludwig Lange. Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function,and Management. Springer, 2001, 503页. 本书是全世界第一本有关生物结皮的专著，是由该领域相关研究的权威——美国地质调查局Belnap Jayne撰写，是当前生物结皮研究人员公认的圣经（Bible）。

In arid lands, where vegetation is sparseor absent, the open ground is not bare but generally covered by a community ofsmall, highly specialized organisms. Cyanobacteria, algae, microfungi, lichens,and bryophytes aggregate soil particles to form a coherent skin - thebiological soil crust. It stabilizes and protects the soil surface from erosionby wind and water, influences water runoff and infiltration, and contributesnitrogen and carbon to desert soils. Soil surface disturbance, such as heavylivestock grazing, human trampling or off-road vehicles, breaks up the fragilesoil crust, thus compromising its stability, structure, and productivity. Thisbook is the first synthesis of the biology of soil crusts and their importanceas an ecosystem component. Composition and functioning of different soil-crusttypes are discussed, and case studies are used to show the impact of crusts onlandscape hydrology, soil stability, nutrient cycles, and land management.