Microphytic crusts: 'topsoil' of the desert
January 1, 1990
Deserts throughout the world are the home of microphytic, or cryptogamic, crusts. These crusts are dominated by cyanobacteria, previously called blue-green algae, and also include lichens, mosses, green algae, microfungi and bacteria. They are critical components of desert ecosystems, significantly modifying the surfaces on which they occur. In the cold deserts of the Colorado Plateau (including parts of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico), these crusts are extraordinarily well-developed, and may represent 70-80% of the living ground cover.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1990 |
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Title | Microphytic crusts: 'topsoil' of the desert |
Authors | Jayne Belnap |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Permaculture Drylands Journal |
Index ID | 70123841 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |