A variety of terricolous fungi inhabit the biological soil crust of arid regions.

It is a common component of cryptobiotic soil crusts, for example, in the dry regions of the western United States.

To protect fragile soil crusts (cryptobiotic soil) which allow plant life to grow and keep the desert from blowing away, stay on established trails.

Purple amole is often associated with undisturbed or recovering soil crusts dominated by cyanobacteria.

The plant commonly grows in areas covered in a cryptogamic soil crust, which appears to have a beneficial effect on the plants.

In addition to the moisture consumed by the plant, significant damage to the protective soil crust is caused by the tumbleweeds' motion.

Fact sheet on the need to protect biological soil crusts in the desert.

Feral goats can deplete the soil's protective cover of vegetation and break up the soil crust with their hooves.

This process is considered a good conservation practice because tilling disturbs the soil crust, causing erosion.

A second natural population located on private land was extirpated when the owners plowed up the soil crust.