biocrust

Not everyone notices another set of strange formations stretching up from the desert floor: biological soil crusts, or “biocrusts,” tangled masses of mosses, lichens and cyanobacteria.

The biocrust conundrum Maya L. Kapoor 2023

And while it may appear uniform, biocrust is in fact an assemblage of many organisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, lichen and mosses.

As the American West dries out, a secret savior emerges from the soil Amanda Heidt 2026

We were there to learn about biocrust — the dark, craggy layer that grows slowly, over many decades, across the surface of drylands around the world.

As the American West dries out, a secret savior emerges from the soil Amanda Heidt 2026

Biocrust is now known by many names, including cryptobiotic soil, crypto or biological soil crust.

As the American West dries out, a secret savior emerges from the soil Amanda Heidt 2026