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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pendleton, Oregon » Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #125132
Title: BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS: ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Author
item BELNAP, JAYNE - USDI-GS
item ROSENTRETER, ROGER - USDI-BLM
item LEONARD, STEVE - USDI-BLM
item KALTENECKER, JULIE - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
item Williams, John
item ELDRIDGE, DAVID - DEP OF LAND & WATER CONS

Submitted to: Department Series
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Vegetation is sparse or absent in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world. On the soil surface between grasses, forbs, and shrubs, a community of highly specialized, micro-organisms occupies what appears to be open, empty space. Cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses, microfungi, and other bacteria populate this community. Combinations of these organisms live within the top few millimeters of soil, gluing loose particles together to form a biological crust. Biological crusts are also commonly known as cryptogamic, cryptobiotic, microbiotic, and microphytic crusts. These crusts have the potential to influence nutrient cycling, soil hydrology, plant community development, and soil erosion. This report is an in-depth review of the scientific literature written about biological crusts.

Technical Abstract: Vegetation is sparse or absent in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world. On the soil surface between grasses, forbs, and shrubs, a community of highly specialized, autotrophic organisms occupies what appears to be open, empty space. Cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses, microfungi, and other bacteria populate this community. Combinations of these organisms live within the top few millimeters of soil, gluing loose particles together to form a biological crust. Biological crusts are also commonly known as cryptogamic, cryptobiotic, microbiotic, and microphytic crusts. These crusts have the potential to influence nutrient cycling, soil hydrology, plant community development, and soil erosion. This report is an in-depth review of the scientific literature written about biological crusts.