Desert pavements – natural surfaces covered with densely or loosely arranged stones – shape roughly half of all arid landscapes and influence key ecological processes. They regulate how water is distributed across the landscape, how soils develop, and how microbial life evolves. Despite their importance, little is known about how these factors interact.

In this project, we investigate how desert pavements trap dust, alter water dynamics, and thereby affect pedogenesis and microbial activity. A particular focus lies on how these processes differ between dry slopes and wetter depressions, how stone cover protects microorganisms from heat and UV radiation, and what this means for soil development.

To better understand these interactions, we combine comprehensive soil analyses with modern microbiological methods and complementary laboratory experiments. This allows us to examine both the physical and chemical properties of the soils as well as the composition and function of microbial communities.

With this integrative approach, we aim to reveal how desert pavements shape soil stability, water balance, and microbial life, and thus influence fundamental processes in arid ecosystems.