Biological soil crusts, a mixture of free-living algae, lichens, bryophytes, fungi, and bacteria, dominate soil surfaces in both tundra and desert environments, where they play an important role in early successional soil processes.  Although soil crusts are ultimately powered by photosynthesis, as soil surface organisms they are highly sensitive to life in the boundary layer and require different approaches from studies on higher plants. We explore their importance in arid grasslands of the Chilcotin plateau.

The NRESi Annual Awards presentations will precede the colloquium presentation.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Presentations are also made available to remote participants through Livestream (Channel 1). Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely.

Past NRESi colloquium presentations and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.