cryptobiotic

These dust devils were not uncommon in the desert, but had increased in number as gas energy drill rigs and work trucks broke up the cryptobiotic crust that holds the fine soil in place.

Bird Cloud Annie Proulx 2011

These dust devils were not uncommon in the desert, but had increased in number as gas energy drill rigs and work trucks broke up the cryptobiotic crust that holds the fine soil in place.

Bird Cloud Annie Proulx 2011

These dust devils were not uncommon in the desert, but had increased in number as gas energy drill rigs and work trucks broke up the cryptobiotic crust that holds the fine soil in place.

Bird Cloud Annie Proulx 2011

These dust devils were not uncommon in the desert, but had increased in number as gas energy drill rigs and work trucks broke up the cryptobiotic crust that holds the fine soil in place.

Bird Cloud Annie Proulx 2011

Fragile cryptobiotic crusts, themselves of significant biological interest, play a critical role throughout the monument, stabilizing the highly erodible desert soils and providing nutrients to plants.

Proclamation Of Grand Staircase National Monument Clinton, Bill, 1946- 1996

Also learned about cryptobiotic soil, which is important to keep the sand and nutrients in place.

TravelPod.com Recent Updates 2008

The most common cryptobiotic strategy (and the one employed by Eureka’s insect plague) is to become desiccated, with a creature losing nearly all its water in a process known as anhydrobiosis.

Eureka: Putting the Crypt in Cryptobiosis 2008