Cyanobacterial Biological Soil Crusts: a tool for restoration

Alessandra Adessi
Post-doc at the University of Florence

Biological Soil Crusts are aggregations of soil particles and organisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae, microfungi, bacteria, lichens, and bryophytes), covering the 70% of the arid and semi-arid areas worldwide. Polysaccharide-excreting species of cyanobacteria are the dominant inhabitants of dryland-BSCs, and the secreted material (EPS) has many roles in the subsistence of these systems in harsh environments.
Research in the field is crucially important for the understanding of the use of BSC in ecological restoration programs in drylands.

5ª feira, 29 de Outubro de 2015
FCUL (Edif. C6) – 12.00h-13.00h – Sala 6.2.51