Biological soil crust

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-003266",
  "term": "Biological soil crust",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Biological Soil Crust",
  "definition": "Also called microbiotic, microphytic, cryptobiotic or cryptogamic crusts. A living community of bacteria, microfungi, cyanobacteria, green algae, mosses, liverworts, and lichens that grow on or just below the soil surface. Biological crusts can heavily influence the morphology of the soil surface, stabilize soil, fix carbon and nitrogen, and can either increase or decrease infiltration. The percent cover and the components of the crust can vary across short distances. Identification of biological crust organisms is simplified through the use of three broad morphological groups: The cyanobacteria group includes cyanobacteria and green algae. The moss group includes short and tall mosses, but not club moss mats, such as those in northern latitudes, or spike moss. The lichen group includes crustose, gelatinous, squamulose, foliose, and fruiticose lichen, as well as liverworts.",
  "subject": "Natural environments",
  "references": [
    "USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/biological-soil-crust/"
}