Microbial diversity in dryland soils

Prokaryotic microbial community structure was determined in the soil surface biological soil crusts (biocrust) in Diamantina National Park, Australia. A range of soil locations were selected to enable comparison between them: dunes, pans, river banks. We also examined samples of airborne dust to see which microbes from the soils became airborne. These comparisons relate to our objectives around investigating the role of microbes in landscape stability and soil erosion.