Environmental microbiology: Soil surface communities bite the dust

Nature Reviews Microbiology 16, 261 (2018). doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2018.34 Author: Ashley York Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are communities of photoautotrophic cyanobacteria, algae and lichens that co-exist with heterotrophic fungi, bacteria and archaea, forming encrusted layers in the soil surface of arid ecosystems. Biocrusts cover ∼12% of the Earth's terrestrial surface, are important for soil stability and water
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research