Biocrust Dominated by Cyanobacteria

A community of intact biocrusts dominated by cyanobacteria was spotted during a biocrust and vegetation survey at a horse disturbance plot in Caliente, NV. The pinnacles were ~3-7cm in height.

Biological soil crusts are an intimate association of soil particles, cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes, and microfungi which live within or directly on top of the uppermost millimeters of soil. (Belnap, 2003) 

Reference

Belnap, J. , Büdel, B. & Lange, O. L. (2003). Biological soil crusts: characteristics and distribution. In Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management (Volume 150, eds Belnap J. and Lange O. L.), pp. 3–30. Springer, Berlin and Heidelberg