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Summary: Effects of Altered Temperature and Precipitation on Desert Protozoa Associated
with Biological Soil Crusts
BRIAN J. DARBY,a,1
DAVID C. HOUSMAN,b
AMR M. ZAKI,c
YASSEIN SHAMOUT,c
SINA M. ADL,c
JAYNE BELNAPb
and
DEBORAH A. NEHERa,1
a
Department of Earth, Ecological and Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606 USA, and
b
U. S. Geological Survey, Canyonlands Field Station, Moab, UT 8453, USA, and
c
Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 3J5
ABSTRACT. Biological soil crusts are diverse assemblages of bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, and mosses that cover much
of arid land soils. The objective of this study was to quantify protozoa associated with biological soil crusts and test the response of
protozoa to increased temperature and precipitation as is predicted by some global climate models. Protozoa were more abundant when
associated with cyanobacteria/lichen crusts than with cyanobacteria crusts alone. Amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates originating from the
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