This session will explore the influences of erosion by wind and water on ecological processes in dryland ecosystems. Increasing evidence suggests that ecological processes, from individual physiology to biogeochemical cycling, are strongly affected by erosional processes that move organisms, organic material, soil, and nutrients into and out of systems. A synoptic understanding of these ecological processes therefore requires moving beyond traditional approaches that assume spatial stasis. Expanding our understanding of dryland ecological processes requires embracing the dynamic movement of materials through space. To do this, ecologists are increasingly relying on information, techniques, and collaborations from earth systems science to integrate hydrological and wind transport processes into ecological studies. The overall goal of this organized oral session is to emphasize to the ecological community the importance of erosional processes in dryland ecology. Specifically, we aim to highlight new research in this area, encourage ecologists to include erosional processes in future studies, and open a dialogue among researchers currently exploring these topics. Ultimately, we expect that this forum will stimulate new research and collaboration between researchers working on physical transport processes and biological processes in dryland systems. The session will feature an interdisciplinary group of speakers, with disciplines spanning microbial ecology, plant ecology, biogeochemistry, soil science, and geomorphology. The session will begin with a synthesis talk that sets the stage by highlighting the breadth of new work on ecological process responses to erosion. Several talks will focus on the controls over wind- and water- driven erosional processes, with an emphasis on how these controls are affected by human activities (e.g., anthropogenic land cover change, shifting fire regimes, and changes in native animal communities). The session will then progress to explore influences of erosion on community composition and biogeochemical processes (e.g., impacts of soil erosion on microbial communities, leaf litter decomposition processes, and snowmelt). The session will conclude with a broad spatial perspective, with a presentation overviewing the global impacts of dust transport with an emphasis on consequences for global nutrient availability and human health.