Ref - Cryptobiotic Soil by Dorde W. Woodruff

This page last updated on 01/07/2018

Land and People:

Conserving the Surroundings of Rock Art

Dorde W. Woodruff

Cryptobiotic Soil

   "Now to look at arid and semi-arid lands in more detail. A peculiar characteristic of all the
world's deserts is cryptobiotic (meaning "hidden life") soil, a crust on top of the ground
composed of a mixture of cyanobacteria (formerly called blue-green algae), several different
types of algae (Flechtner et al.1998:296), fungi, lichens (which are themselves symbiotic
organisms composed of algae and fungi), mosses, and sometimes liverworts or diatoms."

   "The original name for this mixture of organisms, cryptogamic soil, is from an old botanical term
for primitive plants without flowers, cryptogam, meaning "hidden marriage" or "hidden gametes",
gametes being the reproductive parts; before microscopes the reproductive phase of these plants
was hidden from human view. Other terms used are microphytic, "small plant", and microbiotic,
"small life". There is no referee or dictator, so researchers use their favorite term."

   "Cryptobiotic soil is quite important to desert ecology, yet easily damaged. It's not easy anymore
to find a complete cover of cryptobiotic soil between the scattered shrubs, herbs, and grasses of the
desert. ..."

   "For a long time cryptobiotic soil was overlooked; study of its ecology is fairly recent. The
landmark fieldwork of Ed Kleiner and Kimball Harper in Canyonlands in 1967 and 1968 (Kleiner
and Harper 1972) demonstrated basic differences between grazed and ungrazed areas. They
compared Virginia Park, a grassy place surrounded by rock walls and accessible only through a
unique, steep, rocky tunnel through the sandstone wall, to adjacent Chesler Park which had been
grazed for many years in winter by horses, while only deer and no domesticates could get into
Virginia Park."

   "Cryptobiotic cover was about seven times greater in Virginia Park (above), and it was much
richer floristically than Chesler, with more grasses and fewer shrubs. Without pressure from domestic grazers, cacti were less spiny. The soil had more nutrients. There was no drainage channel erosion. The vegetation formed a pattern, indicative of diversity and therefore productivity (Siegel 1999). The soil texture was finer. They concluded that the intact cover of cryptobiotic soil contributed to soil nutrients, and stabilized the soil to resist water and wind erosion."

   "In another landmark study Evans and Ehleringer (1993), using a new and more effective method
of measurement, found that cryptobiotic soil was the primary source of nitrogen for desert soil.
Some of the organisms of this crust, especially cyanobacteria, can change gaseous nitrogen from the air to a form usable by plants. In deserts water is the most limiting factor to plant growth, but
nitrogen is second. Cryptobiotic crusts also increase water infiltration and retention, holding it for
use, limiting runoff and its concomitant erosion. They enhance the establishment of seedling plants,
and warm the soil (Utah Bureau of Land Management, Monticello, 1999)."

   "These small organisms may look insignificant. They are not. All this is helpful and even essential to the health of deserts. But cryptobiotic crusts are fragile, and all the more so when it is hot and dry and they are dormant and brittle. When Kleiner and Harper returned to Virginia Park in the second year of their study, they were surprised their footsteps were still so visible. After that they walked in the same paths. People, domestic or wild animals, vehicles, bicycles, and wildfires all impact the crust (Buttars et al., 1998)."

"Recovery rates are slow. The organisms grow only when wet; summer heat and drought inhibit
them. Estimates vary, but ecologist Jayne Belnap thinks that ground left bare is vulnerable for at least 20 years after disturbance (Belnap 1997). If soil is then lost it may take up to 10,000 years to form again. Time for recovery of the different species varies. Cyanobacteria may begin to recover in as little as six months and may be healthy in five years (Allen 1999). But Belnap notes that it may take at least 50 years for nitrogen fixation to completely return. Furthermore, "assuming adjoining soils are stable and rainfall is average, recovery rates for lichen cover in southern Utah have been most recently estimated at a minimum of 45 years, while recovery of moss cover was estimated at 250 years.""

   "Of course, trampling of any kind disrupts or kills other organisms large and small besides the
cryptobiotic ones (National Park Service, Arches 1996) but these small crust organisms are less likely to be noticed. In the photo at left, sand from disturbance blew over these cryptogams and will kill them. Note the micro-topography; the uneven surface helps water absorption into the ground, helping to prevent runoff."

Reference: Excerpted from the PDF - Utah Rock Art -Volume XIX, Papers presented at the Nineteenth Annual Symposium of the Utah Rock Art Research Association (URARA) Vernal, Utah, September 1999 - pages 87-100 "Land and People: Conserving the Surroundings of Rock Art" by Dorde W. Woodruff - ©2000, 2002 by the Utah Rock Art Research Association (U ), Salt Lake City, Utah. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper. http://www.utahrockart2.org/pubs/proceedings/volumes/Proceedings_Utah_Rock_Art_Volume_19.pdf 

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Index for Category - Lichen

 This page last updated on 12/25/2017

Click on a Title to View Cryptobiotic Soil Crustose Lichens, Weiser Ridge Crustose Lichens, Mt. Charleston Loop Crustose Lichens, Nipton Road, NV Crustose Lichens, Grapevine Canyon, Laughlin, NV Crustose Lichens, Eldorado Canyon, NV Crustose Lichens, Redstone, NV

Ref - Cryptobiotic Soil

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This page last updated on 01/07/2018

(Fig. 01)

(Fig. 02) Picture Notes: The pictures in (Figs. 01 & 03) were captured while taking a guided hike to the Pinnacles in the Valley of Fire. Our guide pointed out examples of these cryptobiotic soils that surrounded some of the trail areas that we were hiking, noting how important they are to preserving the natural environment. My hiking partner, Bob Croke, got down on the ground for a great up-close-and-personal close-up (Fig. 03) of these unique organisms. The pictures in (Fig. 02) were captured on 1/1/2016 while hiking another of the parks' guided hikes of the Duck Rock Trail. (Fig. 02) Cryptobiotic (a.k.a. Cryptogamic or microphytic) Soils: When hiking across valley bottoms or along open slopes, you should be careful where you walk. Whenever you encounter a bumpy crust in the soil like that shown above (Figs. 01 & 02), you should make every effort to avoid walking on it. Many times you will encounter enormous networks of fungi, bacteria, mosses, and lichens that stitch themselves together to create vast communities of life in the top layer of soil. These networks, called cryptobiotic soils, are desert ecosystems’ security forces, helping these ecosystems in many ways. They act as large sponges, soaking up rainwater before it has a chance to run off. They then help prevent the water from evaporating away. This fragile ‘crust’ also prevents the soil from blowing away as dust. Some scientists estimate that these cryptogamic communities dominate up to 70% of desert soils on the planet. Unfortunately, all of these benefits disappear as soon as the seal is broken. When people, vehicles, and animals, travel across these soils, they break down the networks, starting erosion, creating dust, and allowing invasive plants to take root. When destroyed, they can take anywhere from 7 to 250 years to regenerate. To read more about Crytobiotic Soil go to ... Reference - Cryptobiotic Soil [Return to the Previous Pinnacles Hike Page] [Return to the Duck Rock Hike Page]

Lichen from Weiser Ridge

I’m always on the lookout for some good lichen pictures and found these two on a hike at Weiser Ridge on 0329/2012. I think the amazing thing is that they were both within about 30 feet of each other, yet so different in both texture and color. Lichens rank among the least well known forms of life. They can be found covering rocks, soil, bark, etc. -- often forming brilliantly colored streaks. Their very structure is a symbioses of two organisms -- a fungus and algae. I have yet to find any information on what causes it to grow in the first place or about what specific conditions produce a certain type. The yellow ones pictured here are probably what is know as Common Yolk Lichens (Acarospora spp.); the green ones are called Lecanora spp.

Crustose Lichens, Mt. Charleston Loop

On 04/07/2011, I found these brilliantly colored lichen covered rocks in a wash area on a hike along Robber’s Roost Trail off NV State Road 158, also known as Deer Creek Road. Some of the least known forms of life, lichens are among the most fascinating living organisms on this planet. Their very structure is unique: a symbioses of two organisms -- a fungus and algae -- so complete that they behave and look like an entirely new being. A lichen can literally eat stones, survive severe cold, and remain dormant for long periods without harm. Those that cover a substrate like a crust are called Crustose lichens. Lichens need sunlight, but because of their small size and slow growth, they thrive in places where higher plants have difficulty growing. They often settle in places lacking soil, constituting the sole vegetation in some extreme environments such as those found at high mountain elevations and at high latitudes.

Crustose Lichens, Nipton Road, NV

This picture was taken on 02/24/2011 along Nipton Road between Searchlight Nevada and Nipton California, while on a hike with the rock hounds from the Henderson Senior Center. For more info on lichens visit … http://www.perspective.com/nature/fungi/lichens.html#crustose.

Crustose Lichens, Grapevine Canyon, Laughlin, NV

This picture was taken on 02/23/2010 while on a hike Connie and I made to Grapevine Canyon, located just north of Laughlin, Nevada.  As I have said before, I love to find pictures like this which seem remind me of other images. Call me crazy again, or maybe it's just the artist in me, but the main shape of the focused area reminds me of a left side view of a bust, face and head (looking towards you) and shoulders. I think it is easier to see if you stare at the picture and then squint your eyes.

Crustose Lichens, Eldorado Canyon, NV

These pictures were taken on a hike to Eldorado Canyon, just southeast of Nelson, NV, on 02/17/2011. Lichens are among the most fascinating organisms on this planet. Their very structure is unique: a symbioses of two organisms -- a fungus and algae -- so complete that they behave and look like an entirely new being. I have always been fascinated by these living organisms and the variety of colors that they often present. The yellow ones pictured here are probably what is know as Common Yolk Lichens (Acarospora spp.). Red ones are Caloplaca spp.; and green ones are called Lecanora spp.

Background Info:  Lichens rank among the least well known forms of life. Common names, when available, typically apply to the entire genus rather than to individual species. Lichens are generally divided into three basic forms: crustose, or crust-like; foliose or leaf-like; and fruticoseor stalked. Crustose lichens, such as those shown here, are flaky or crust-like. They can be found covering rocks, soil, bark, etc. -- often forming brilliantly colored streaks. Lichens can be divided into three basic forms: crustose, or crust-like; foliose or leaf-like; and fruticoseor stalked. A lichen can literally eat stones, survive severe cold, and remain dormant for long periods without harm. Classification of lichens is undergoing change as well. In fact, Mycologists now suggest eliminating the Lichens as a Phylum and, instead, reclassifying each invidual lichen according to its fungal component -- mostly Sac Fungi (Ascomycota). Never-the-less, lichens look so different from other fungi that they deserve separate treatment here.

Crustose Lichens, Redstone, NV

This picture was taken on 01/20/2011 while on a hike to the Redstone Loop Trail with the Henderson Heritage Park Senior Facility rock hounds. The Redstone Loop Trail is located at mile marker 27 along the North Shore Drive on the western side of Lake Mead, NV. Situated within an area called Redstone, the trail, at an elevation of 2,238 to 2,323 feet, is a short half-mile walk that surrounds several red sandstone outcroppings which are reminiscent of the Valley of Fire or Red Rock Canyon. I just love to find pictures like this which seem remind me of other images. Call me crazy, but when I first noticed these lichens, their shape immediately reminded me of an ‘old world’ map with all of the continents laid out flat.