Student Work

Fragile Cryptobiotic Crusts of Desert Ecosystems

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Cryptobiotic crusts, found in desert ecosystems, are responsible for fixing carbon and nitrogen and stabilizing soil by reducing erosion. Crusts were grown in a laboratory setting, simulating the temperature, sunlight, and amount of rainfall they would experience in a natural environment. The crusts are composed of combinations of three species of prokaryotic algae: Microcoleus, Scytonema and Nostoc, and were observed using epifluorescent microscopy.

  • 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.
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  • E-project-042606-211719
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  • 2006
Date created
  • 2006-04-26
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