Biological soil crust, also called cryptobiotic soil crust, microbiotic soil crust, or cryptogamic soil crust, thin layer of living material formed in the uppermost millimetres of soil where soil particles are aggregated by a community of highly specialized organisms.
A diverse group of organisms, they can colonize a wide range of surfaces and are frequently found on tree bark, exposed rock, and as a part of biological soil crust.
Figure 1 Biological soil crust types with dominating lichen species.
Soil crust CO2 exchange was related to surface area.
Rainfall decreased soil infiltration rate (10%26%%) mainly due to soil crust by raindrop impact.
Similarly in both biological soil crust types, litter reduced the rate of dark respiration.
Biotic soil crust communities contribute valuable ecosystem services and biodiversity in steppe ecosystems.
Much potential soil crust lichen habitat has been lost to urban and agricultural development.
A soil crust piece of 19.4 cm2 dominated by approximately 570 thalli of Psora decipiens (Hedw).
On the south-facing slope, the sheep mainly disrupted the soil crust in the intershrub area.
