Biological soil crusts, often referred to as biocrusts, are complex communities of microorganisms, including cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and mosses, that form a thin layer on the soil surface ...

Biocrust, also called cryptobiotic soil, is a "community of tiny, dirt-dwelling organisms that form a distinct crust on the top of soil in arid landscapes," said Knowable Magazine. It covers ...