Biological soil crusts are essential in arid regions worldwide, playing key roles in soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and water regulation. Cyanobacteria are foundational organisms in these ...

Erin Carr’s doctoral adviser Steven Harris handed her bags of soil collected from the soil crust of a cold British Columbian ...

These crusts are vital across Earth’s dryland ecosystems, helping to hold loose soil together and prevent erosion. They retain water, provide nooks for other microbes to live in and add nitrogen ...

Scientists in Moab are working to understand how climate change will impact desert biocrusts The loss of biological soil crusts could affect water cycles and desert ecology.

Using a novel method to detect microbial activity in biological soil crusts, or biocrusts, after they are wetted, a Penn State–led research team in a new study uncovered clues that will lead to ...

These crusts are vital across Earth’s dryland ecosystems, helping to hold loose soil together and prevent erosion. They retain water, provide nooks for other microbes to live in and add nitrogen ...

At first glance, the grit crust could seem like a routine example of what researchers call a biological soil crust, or “biocrust” — a community of coexisting bacteria, fungi, algae and other ...

By monitoring dust sources and unique weather events and evaluating two bio-inspired methods to grow new soil crust, the team aims to offer new solutions for immediate and long-term dust control.

A new study published in The Innovation has revealed the microstructure and expansion mechanism of cyanobacteria-dominated biological soil crusts (BSCs). By employing micro-scale X-ray computed ...