Biocrust Dominated by Cyanobacteria
Detailed Description
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
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.
Related
Can ruderal components of biocrust (mosses and cyanobacteria) be maintained under increasing threats of drought, grazing and feral horses?
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are a community of living organisms, like moss, lichen, and algae, covering soils in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, providing important ecological functions like carbon cycling and soil stabilization. Analyses show that biocrusts are negatively associated with the abundance of invasive annual grasses that are responsible for increasing fire across the Great Basin...
Related
Can ruderal components of biocrust (mosses and cyanobacteria) be maintained under increasing threats of drought, grazing and feral horses?
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are a community of living organisms, like moss, lichen, and algae, covering soils in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, providing important ecological functions like carbon cycling and soil stabilization. Analyses show that biocrusts are negatively associated with the abundance of invasive annual grasses that are responsible for increasing fire across the Great Basin...