Also called biocrust, cryptobiotic soil is a community of tiny, dirt-dwelling organisms that form a distinct crust on the top of soil in arid landscapes. These crusts are vital across Earth’s ...

More information: Tong Li et al, Migration and structural implication of cyanobacteria in biological soil crusts in response to water and particle burial, The Innovation (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j ...

Also called biocrust, cryptobiotic soil is a community of tiny, dirt-dwelling organisms that form a distinct crust on the top of soil in arid landscapes. These crusts are vital across Earth’s ...

The loss of biological soil crusts could affect water cycles and desert ecology. (Zak Podmore | The Salt Lake Tribune) USGS ecologist Sasha Reed explains features of Colorado Plateau biocrusts ...

Biological soil crusts are assemblages of organisms that form a perennial, well-organized surface layer in soils. They are widespread, ...

They’ve learned that the crusts anchor soil grains in place and provide the organisms growing in that soil with essential nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. In 2012, Büdel and his ...

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.

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

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 ...