Desert magic
Cryptobiotic soil crust is one of the desert's hidden forms of life. This fragile living layer forms on the surface of desert soils and is made up of bacteria, algae, and lichen. Though often overlooked, it plays an important role in the health of the desert. These organisms help fix nitrogen in the soil, making nutrients available for plant life, and they bind soil particles together, helping protect the ground from wind erosion.
Because the crust is thin and delicate, it can be easily damaged by footsteps or other disturbance. Yet where it remains intact, it helps hold the desert surface in place and supports the larger bajada community. In this way, cryptobiotic crust may seem small and hidden, but it is an essential part of desert life and stability.
erosion.
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