Carl, If you are going into the desert you might notice the crust on top of the soil. That is what keeps it from becoming a loose sand deposit. This is a cryptobiotic crust. They are kind of neat. Check out this link for information: http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/cryptos.html Here is an excerpt for the page:
CRYPTOBIOTIC CRUST is also called BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUST. These are communities of cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses, liverworts, and microorganisms that colonize the surface of bare soil. "Cryptobiotic" means "hidden life." Crusts often go unnoticed unless they are very extensive or colorful, and some do not even look alive. But they are vital to the health of soils and ecosystems. Cryptobiotic crust is best known (and probably most studied) from the protected lands of the national parks of the Colorado Plateau, where it forms dark lumpy patches on the red soil. But it is equally important to desert, prairie, and tundra ecosystems, and also colonizes bare ground in humid temperate environments. The most complex and spectacular "old growth" crusts take decades to develop. They are miniature forests with dozens of species of cyanobacteria, green algae, mosses, and lichens over a dark layer of organic-rich soil. The damp soil is alive with earthworms, snails, millipedes, insects, and microorganisms, and nourishes grasses, wildflowers, and even trees. So you might be seeing some old-growth crusts. I am looking for detailed reports of your exploits. Ed "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science." - Albert Einstein ----- Original Message ----- From: Carl Harting To: ENTSTrees Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 9:12 PM Subject: [ENTS] Arizona Forests I'll be traveling to Phoenix later in the month for work and have a couple free days to see what Arizona has to offer. Can anyone recommend a few interesting forests in northern Arizona or southern Utah? I'll bring my laser and clinometer just in case. Carl --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
