Thursday, April 18th 2024, 2:00 PM (ET)
Biological soil crusts are essential features in arid ecosystems. These biocrusts provide various ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and carbon fixation, soil stability and reduction of fugitive dust, water retention and holding capacity, and increasing soil fertility. New research suggests that PV solar farms in arid environments can promote the formation and growth of biocrusts.
Moderator: Dr. Josh Ennen, Senior Scientist, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute
Speaker: Dr. Ferran Garcia-Pichel, Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Dr. Ferran Garcia-Pichel is a professor in the School of Life Sciences and director of the Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics at Arizona State University. He has been listening to what microbes have to tell us about adapting to their environment and the roles they play to shape it. For this, he has used a wide variety of approaches that span molecular, genetic, biochemical and ecological inquiries. He has also been interested in translating the knowledge gained in the process into practical applications, most recently establishing means for microbially-mediated ecological restoration.