iBIOCRUST4 4" International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts jerribah, AustraliaFourth Internationa I Workshop on Biological So il Crusts The University of Queensland, Moreton Bay Research Station Dunwich, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Queensland, Australia August 25-30, 2019 Program and Abstracts }op on Biol Soil Crusts, Moreton Bay Research Station, August 25-30, 2019 | Page , 2019 | , August iS s, Moreton Bay Res ‘ernational Workshop on Biologicalical soil crust in the Peruvi Biological ian Atacam 5 perspectives @ Desert: assessments and na, César’, Renaifo, Maria C.'3, Espindola, w; ae nchi, Xiomy?®, Arteaga, Robert!, Grillo, Saorit Letty2® & Ge, Xue-Jun’ : alter, Torres, Adri v . , Adris Pillaca, Luis’, Carlo, Tor hoe » Cisneros, Smit! mas A, Salinas, ‘Dep. Ecologia, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San M. iol6 an 2Facultad de Ciencias Bioldgicas, UNMSM, Lima, Peru larcos, Peru sgchool of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, USA ‘Biology department, 208 Mueller Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, USA sDepartment of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, USA sDep, Omitologfa, Museo de Historia Natural, UNMSM, Lima, Peru 1Plant Science Centre, South China Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China email: caranab@[Link] In the region of the Peruvian coast there is a strong arid climate, with some areas of seasonal humidity generated by condensation of winter fogs in beginning of the Andean foothills. In these ‘areas, the coastal ecosystems “Lomas” are formed, which are a biodiversity hotspot in this hyperarid region. However, this diversity is sustained in a nutrient-poor sandy soil with scarce water year-long, It is the presence of the biological soil crust (BSC) that makes the emergence of this green oasis possible. We have evaluated the types of BSC and initiated various approaches on the role played by this assembly in the Lomas (18 localities, between 17.77 to 11.33°S). At least five types of BSC have been differentiated by their texture, coloration and dominant taxonomic group smooth light cyanobacterial crust, smooth dark cyanobacterial crust, rugose cyanobacterial and moss crust, rugose moss crust with organic matter and rugose moss crust with vegetation. We have ‘concentrated our research on the Lachay National Reserve and found that cyanobacteria and micro-fungi have different assemblages in each type of BSC. The smooth dark cyanobacterial BSC ‘occupies most of the surface of Lachay (more than 1200 hectares in the lower zone), covering between 60 and 80% of the area, the rest area has uncovered sand produced of the removal of the BSC by fossorial animals (arthropods, lizards and especially birds of the genus Geositta and ‘Athene). Assessments of moisture content, chemical characteristics, interactions with feta Vegetation, a-chlorophyll content and photosynthesis show significant differences belwern SO covered with BSC and those with disturbances caused by fossorial organisms. Biological sot crus acts as an ecosystem engineer affecting the availability of resources for other Ca aren interacts with other type of ecosystem engineers (fossorial animals) in @ complex way, development of life in these extreme conditions. 9 | Page 85 ust 25-30, 201 arch Station, Aug 4" International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts, Moreton Bay Reseé