Biological soil crust is the main component in desert areas; constituted by a mixture of cyanobacteria, bacteria and lichens and is responsible for stabilizing and protecting the soil surface from erosive mechanisms. Three different kinds of cyanobacteria found in the desert southwest were plated (Nostoc, Scytonema and Microcoleus) and several emulations of the soil crusts were grown in a laboratory setting. The samples were analyzed using epifluorescence microscopy and out of the three cyanobacteria Scytonema was the one found on the surface of the crusts, and demonstrating that it was the most resistant to UV light.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Aguilar, Claudia Patricia

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 07D089M

Advisor

• Crusberg, Theodore C.

Year

• 2007

Date created

• 2007-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright