|
DESERT SOIL MICROBIOLOGY
On Saturday, we took a microscope view of the crusted desert soils that we had collected
near Zia Pueblo. The bacterial filaments are clear as
day, and inflated to be nice and green when the soil was watered. Dr. Ferran Garcia-Pichel's
web site has more information about bacteria
in desert soils.
|
Ferran answers a question, but Cheryl is dubious. Credit. |
The desert crust soil, marinated with water overnight. Credit. |
|
Dry soil, seen through the microscope. The sand looks black because it contrasts so much with the clear field around it. Perhaps one can imagine filaments among the sand grains. Credit. |
The desert soil, with some water added. Lots of green filaments, the cyanobacterial 'mat' with fragments of sand attached to them. Credit. |