DOI: 10.5061/dryad.xd2547dpr
title: Data for: Protective functions of Biocrusts on the Great Wall of China

description: The Great Wall of China, one of the most emblematic and historical
 structures built by humankind throughout all of history, is suffering from
 rain and wind erosion and is largely colonized by biocrusts. Yet, how
 biocrusts influence the conservation and longevity of this structure is
 virtually unknown. Here, we conducted an extensive biocrust survey across
 the Great Wall and found that biocrusts cover 67% of the studied sections.
 Biocrusts enhance the mechanical stability and reduce the erodibility of
 the Great Wall. Compared with bare rammed earth, the biocrust-covered
 sections exhibited reduced porosity, water-holding capacity, erodibility,
 and salinity by 2%–48%, while increasing compressive strength, penetration
 resistance, shear strength, and aggregate stability by 37%–321%. We
 further found that the protective function of biocrusts mainly depended on
 biocrust features, climatic conditions, and structure types. Our work
 highlights the fundamental importance of biocrusts as a nature-based
 intervention to the conservation of the Great Wall, protecting this
 monumental heritage from erosion.
description: # Data for protective functions of Biocrusts on the Great Wall
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xd2547dpr](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xd2547dpr) ## Description of the data and file structure Data files: Note: The empty cells in data files indicate no data there. (1) Porosity and water-holding capacity of biocrusts\_data Sheet 1 -Capillary porosity of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of moss biocrusts in arid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of bare rammed earth in arid climate (%) -Capillary porosity of moss biocrusts on wall (%) -Capillary porosity of moss biocrusts on fortress (%) -Capillary porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (%) -Capillary porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (%) -Capillary porosity of bare rammed earth on wall (%) -Capillary porosity of bare rammed earth on fortress (%) Sheet 2 -Totol porosity of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (%) -Totol porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (%) -Totol porosity of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (%) -Totol porosity of moss biocrusts in arid climate (%) -Totol porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (%) -Totol porosity of bare rammed earth in arid climate (%) -Totol porosity of moss biocrusts on wall (%) -Totol porosity of moss biocrusts on fortress (%) -Totol porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (%) -Totol porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (%) -Totol porosity of bare rammed earth on wall (%) -Totol porosity of bare rammed earth on fortress (%) Sheet 3 -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth (cm3 cm-3) Sheet 4 -Total porosity of bare rammed earth in NX (%) -Total porosity of bare rammed earth in YS (%) -Total porosity of bare rammed earth in SX (%) -Total porosity of bare rammed earth in DT (%) -Total porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (%) -Total porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (%) -Total porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (%) -Total porosity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (%) -Total porosity of moss biocrusts in NX (%) -Total porosity of moss biocrusts in YS (%) -Total porosity of moss biocrusts in SX (%) -Total porosity of moss biocrusts in DT (%) Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. (2) Mechanical stability of biocrusts\_data Sheet 1 -Strain of bare rammed earth (%) -Stress of bare rammed earth (KPa) -Strain of cyanobacterial biocrusts (%) -Stress of cyanobacterial biocrusts (KPa) -Strain of moss biocrusts (%) -Stress of moss biocrusts (KPa) Sheet 2 -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts (KPa) -Penetration resistance of bare rammed earth (MPa) -Penetration resistance of cyanobacterial biocrusts (MPa) -Penetration resistance of moss biocrusts (MPa) Sheet 3 -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in arid climate (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in arid climate (kg cm-2) Sheet 4 -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts on wall (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts on fortress (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (KPa) -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth on wall (KPa) -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth on fortress (KPa) (3) Erodibility of biocrusts\_data Sheet 1 -R of bare rammed earth (%) -R of cyanobacterial biocrusts (%) -R of moss biocrusts (%) -GMD of bare rammed earth (mm) -GMD of cyanobacterial biocrusts (mm) -GMD of moss biocrusts (mm) -MWD of bare rammed earth (mm) -MWD of cyanobacterial biocrusts (mm) -MWD of moss biocrusts (mm) Note: R, GMD, and MWD indicate the macroaggregate content, geometric mean diameter, and mean weight diameter, respectively. Sheet 2 -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts (g kg-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth (μs cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts (μs cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts (μs cm-1) Sheet 3 -K of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate -K of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate -K of moss biocrusts in arid climate -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate -K of bare rammed earth in arid climate -K of moss biocrusts on wall -K of moss biocrusts on fortress -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress -K of bare rammed earth on wall -K of bare rammed earth on fortress Note: K is the erodibility coefficient. Sheet 4 -K of bare rammed earth in YS -K of bare rammed earth in SX -K of bare rammed earth in DT -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX -K of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT -K of moss biocrusts in NX -K of moss biocrusts in YS -K of moss biocrusts in SX -K of moss biocrusts in DT Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. (4) Water-holding capacity of biocrusts in different conditions\_data Sheet 1 -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts on fortress (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth on fortress (cm3 cm-3) Sheet 2 -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in arid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in arid climate (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts on fortress (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth on wall (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth on fortress (cm3 cm-3) Sheet 3 -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth in NX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of bare rammed earth in DT (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts in NX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Saturated water content of moss biocrusts in DT (cm3 cm-3) Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. Sheet 4 -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in NX (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of bare rammed earth in DT (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in NX (cm3 m-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in YS (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in SX (cm3 cm-3) -Field capacity of moss biocrusts in DT (cm3 cm-3) (5) Mechanical stability of biocrusts in different conditions\_data Sheet 1 -Compressive strength of CK in semiarid area (KPa) -Compressive strength of CC in semiarid area (KPa) -Compressive strength of MC in semiarid area (KPa) -Compressive strength of CK in arid area (KPa) -Compressive strength of CC in arid area (KPa) -Compressive strength of MC in arid area (KPa) Sheet 2 -Penetration resistance of CK in semiarid area (MPa) -Penetration resistance of CC in semiarid area (MPa) -Penetration resistance of MC in semiarid area (MPa) -Penetration resistance of CK in arid area (MPa) -Penetration resistance of CC in arid area (MPa) -Penetration resistance of MC in arid area (MPa) Note: CK, CC, and MC indicate the bare rammed earth, cyanobacterial biocrusts, and moss biocrusts, respectively. Sheet 3 -Shear strength of bare rammed earth on wall (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts on wall (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of bare rammed earth on fortress (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts on fortress (kg cm-2) Sheet 4 -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth in NX (KPa) -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth in YS (KPa) -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth in SX (KPa) -Compressive strength of bare rammed earth in DT (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (KPa) -Compressive strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts in NX (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts in YS (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts in SX (KPa) -Compressive strength of moss biocrusts in DT (KPa) Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. Sheet 5 -Penetration resistance of bare rammed earth in NX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of bare rammed earth in YS (MPa) -Penetration resistance of bare rammed earth in SX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of bare rammed earth in DT (MPa) -Penetration resistance of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (MPa) -Penetration resistance of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (MPa) -Penetration resistance of moss biocrusts in NX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of moss biocrusts in YS (MPa) -Penetration resistance of moss biocrusts in SX (MPa) -Penetration resistance of moss biocrusts in DT (MPa) Sheet 6 -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in NX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in YS (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in SX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of bare rammed earth in DT (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in NX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in YS (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in SX (kg cm-2) -Shear strength of moss biocrusts in DT (kg cm-2) (6) Aggregate stability of biocrusts in different conditions\_data Sheet 1 -R of MC in semiarid area (%) -R of CC in semiarid area (%) -R of CK in semiarid area (%) -R of MC in arid area (%) -R of CC in arid area (%) -R of CK in arid area (%) -R of MC on wall (%) -R of MC on fortress (%) -R of CC on wall (%) -R of CC on fortress (%) -R of CK on wall (%) -R of CK on fortress (%) Note: CK, CC, and MC indicate the bare rammed earth, cyanobacterial biocrusts, and moss biocrusts, respectively. Sheet 2 -GMD of MC in semiarid area (mm) -GMD of CC in semiarid area (mm) -GMD of CK in semiarid area (mm) -GMD of MC in arid area (mm) -GMD of CC in arid area (mm) -GMD of CK in arid area (mm) -GMD of MC on wall (mm) -GMD of MC on fortress (mm) -GMD of CC on wall (mm) -GMD of CC on fortress (mm) -GMD of CK on wall (mm) -GMD of CK on fortress (mm) Sheet 3 -MWD of MC in semiarid area (mm) -MWD of CC in semiarid area (mm) -MWD of CK in semiarid area (mm) -MWD of MC in arid area (mm) -MWD of CC in arid area (mm) -MWD of CK in arid area (mm) -MWD of MC on wall (mm) -MWD of MC on fortress (mm) -MWD of CC on wall (mm) -MWD of CC on fortress (mm) -MWD of CK on wall (mm) -MWD of CK on fortress (mm) Note: R, GMD, and MWD indicate the macroaggregate content, geometric mean diameter, and mean weight diameter, respectively. Sheet 4 -R of bare rammed earth in NX (%) -R of bare rammed earth in YS (%) -R of bare rammed earth in SX (%) -R of bare rammed earth in DT (%) -R of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (%) -R of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (%) -R of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (%) -R of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (%) -R of moss biocrusts in NX (%) -R of moss biocrusts in YS (%) -R of moss biocrusts in SX (%) -R of moss biocrusts in DT (%) Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. Sheet 5 -GMD of bare rammed earth in NX (mm) -GMD of bare rammed earth in YS (mm) -GMD of bare rammed earth in SX (mm) -GMD of bare rammed earth in DT (mm) -GMD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (mm) -GMD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (mm) -GMD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (mm) -GMD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (mm) -GMD of moss biocrusts in NX (mm) -GMD of moss biocrusts in YS (mm) -GMD of moss biocrusts in SX (mm) -GMD of moss biocrusts in DT (mm) Sheet 6 -MWD of bare rammed earth in NX (mm) -MWD of bare rammed earth in YS (mm) -MWD of bare rammed earth in SX (mm) -MWD of bare rammed earth in DT (mm) -MWD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (mm) -MWD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (mm) -MWD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (mm) -MWD of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (mm) -MWD of moss biocrusts in NX (mm) -MWD of moss biocrusts in YS (mm) -MWD of moss biocrusts in SX (mm) -MWD of moss biocrusts in DT (mm) (7) Organic matter content and salinity of biocrusts in different conditions\_data Sheet 1 -Organic matter content of CK (g kg-1) -Organic matter content of CC (g kg-1) -Organic matter content of MC (g kg-1) Note: CK, CC, and MC indicate the bare rammed earth, cyanobacterial biocrusts, and moss biocrusts, respectively. Sheet 2 -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrust in arid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in arid climate (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrust on wall (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrust on fortress (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth on wall (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth on fortress (μm cm-1) Sheet 3 -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in semiarid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in semiarid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in semiarid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in arid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in arid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in arid climate (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts on wall (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts on fortress (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts on wall (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts on fortress (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth on wall (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth on fortress (g kg-1) Sheet 4 -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in NX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in YS (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in SX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of bare rammed earth in DT (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts in NX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts in YS (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts in SX (μm cm-1) -Electrical conductivity of moss biocrusts in DT (μm cm-1) Note: NX, YS, SX, and DT is the name of defense district of the Great Wall. Sheet 5 -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in NX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in YS (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in SX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of bare rammed earth in DT (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in NX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in YS (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in SX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of cyanobacterial biocrusts in DT (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in NX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in YS (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in SX (g kg-1) -Soluble salt content of moss biocrusts in DT (g kg-1) (8) Spearman correlation coefficients\_data Sheet 1: Cyanobacterial biocrusts -T (mm)：thickness of biocrust layer -C0 (%):biocrust coverage -ρb (g cm-3)：bulk density -Cl (%)：clay content -f0 (%)：total porosity -fc (%)：capillary porosity -Sc (m3 m-3)：saturated water content -Fc (m3 m-3)：field capacity -R (%)：macroaggregate content -MWD (mm)：mean weight diameter -GWD (mm)：geometric mean diameter -K：erodibility coefficient -Fs (kg cm-2)：shear strength -P (MPa)： penetration resistance -Cs (KPa)：compressive strength -O (g kg-1)：organic matter content -S (g kg-1)：electrical conductivity -Ec (μm cm-1)：soluble salt content Sheet 2: Moss biocrusts -T (mm)：thickness of biocrust layer -D (individual cm-2): moss density -B (g m-2): moss biomass -ρb (g cm-3)：bulk density -Cl (%)：clay content -f0 (%)：total porosity -fc (%)：capillary porosity -Sc (m3 m-3)：saturated water content -Fc (m3 m-3)：field capacity -R (%)：macroaggregate content -MWD (mm)：mean weight diameter -GWD (mm)：geometric mean diameter -K：erodibility coefficient -Fs (kg cm-2)：shear strength -P (MPa)： penetration resistance -Cs (KPa)：compressive strength -O (g kg-1)：organic matter content -S (g kg-1)：electrical conductivity -Ec (μm cm-1)：soluble salt content