生物土壤结皮（Biological Soil Crusts，以下简称BSCs）是由藻类、苔藓 等隐花植物及其胞外多糖、分泌物等与土壤颗粒胶结形成的重要有机复合体， 覆盖了干旱、半干旱地区约70 %的地表面积。BSCs 在改变土壤结构及影响其 水分循环等生命物理化学过程中扮演着重要的角色。本文在查阅国内外相关 研究成果的基础上，简单介绍了BSCs 定义、形态特征、研究简史及其生态意 义；对生物结皮相关研究中于近年发展起来的常见实验手段和方法：遥感监 测法、叶绿素荧光动力学技术、显微观测法和X 射线显微层析成像法，根据 其应用原理、成本、数据质量和使用便捷性评述了各项实验手段的优缺点； 着重对BSCs 与土壤水分之间的相互作用机制进行了归纳总结，阐释了BSCs 通过改变土壤物理性质、增加地表粗糙度、自身吸水膨胀堵塞土壤孔隙、改 变土壤斥水性等对土壤水分下渗造成的影响；针对近年来引起广泛争议的生 物结皮 “滑移”现象做出假设，并以与之相关的实验结果分析了该假设成立的 可能性；最后，文章总结了现有BSCs 研究中存在的问题，指出了未来发展的 可能方向，以期为后续研究提供参考。

Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) are complex matrices formed by adhesion of soil particles to polysaccharides exerted by cryptic populations like cyanobacteria, mosses, etc. Covering over 70 % of the land surface within arid and semi-arid area, they play an important role in modifying local soil structure and affecting its hydrological regimes. Based on BSCs related works done by researchers all around the world, this manuscript give a brief introduction of its arduous journey along the history and its ecological significance. Remote sensing, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, microscope observation, X-ray microtomography are newly developed instruments applied in BSCs correlating studies, we generalize every of its merits and demerits within these modern technologies by epitomizing specifications, data quality assurance and accessibility, etc. each and all. We illustrate the interaction mechanism between BSCs and water infiltration, where BSCs can profoundly influence local water infiltrations through increasing surface roughness, swelling and expanding in response to moistness which usually leads to the clogging of pores, altering soil properties, etc., and water saturating can give rise to the “glide” of BSCs. However, this “glide” phenomenon still remains a debatable thesis in recent investigations. Hence, we put forward a possible hypothesis upon this controversial contention and probe into its feasibility referring to relevant experimental evidence. Actually there still remains multiple challenges in the exploration of BSCs, besides outlining certain of these issues in great urgency, we come up with a few solutions to the difficulties as well as a potential trend of future development, which the posting studies can benefit from.