New Video Available: How scientists at the University of Vienna reveal the power of desert soil microbes
More than 40 percent of the world's land area is covered by drylands – a number that is constantly increasing due to climate change and unsustainable land management practices. In these extreme habitats, soil microorganisms adapted to the desert climate fulfil important ecosystem functions. Microbes in particular on the soil surface – in the so-called biological soil crust – prevent soil erosion and provide carbon and nitrogen, two key factors for soil fertility. In their ERC-funded projects (the current project "WinMicAct" and the previous project "DormantMicrobes") the Woebken Group at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (University of Vienna) explores how desert microorganisms survive extended droughts and the importance of different water sources for microbial activities and the preservation of microbial diversity.
© Robert Puteanu/CeMESS
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