Examining Dryland Soil Stabilization Efforts with a Focus on the Ecological Role of Biological Soil Crust

This thesis is meant to explore soil stabilization in dryland systems, with a specific focus on the ecology, soil stabilizing capacity, and distribution of biological soil crusts. Specifically, we focus on biological soil crusts and their ecological role in Bandelier National Monument, NM. Chapter 1 serves as an overview of soil stabilization methods used in drylands around the world. Chapter 2 focuses on a rehabilitation experiment stabilizing soils in Bandelier National Monument. Chapter 3 focuses on a greenhouse experiment exploring how communities of biological soil crusts assemble along the soil niche. Finally, Chapter 4 is a field guide to biological soil crusts present within Bandelier.