Unraveling the diversity and heterogeneity of cyanobacteria in the Horqin Sandland

This project investigates the diversity and community structure of cyanobacteria within biological soil crusts (biocrusts) from three degraded regions of the Horqin Sandland, China. Using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA and nifH genes, we aimed to characterize cyanobacterial composition, abundance, and nitrogen-fixing potential, and assess their spatial heterogeneity in relation to environmental factors. The study explores the potential of native cyanobacteria for biocrust induction and ecological restoration in degraded drylands.