Microbiotic crusts occur extensively in rangeland soils . Developed by filaments of cyanobacteria and algae , and thalli of lichen and moss entanglement of soil particles , they create a physical discontinuity in the surface profile with greater concen trations of clay , silt , and potentially hydrophobic organic matter. These conditions potentially contribute to variability in soil hydrology of arid land and should be considered in the development of hydrologic and erosion models. However, there is limited manipulative research examining the functional relationships between soil and microbiotic crusts...