Biological Soil Crusts and their ability to trap dust, add nutrients to soil and affect the hydro cycle, are critical factors of soil pedogenesis within a desert region. As pioneer organisms, BSC's are able to colonize extreme environmental conditions well before vascular plants take root. Without the soil crusts, a desert can and will turn into desert pavement, an impervious surface, which supports no biological processes. The microorganisms add a significant amount of organ