Hidden Gems of the Shrub-Steppe

Maintaining a healthy shrub-steppe ecosystem requires protecting the living soil crust— associations of different tiny organisms such as lichens, bryophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria. This poem explains some of the reasons why its protection is important.

Hidden Gems

In between the sagebrush

of the arid shrub-steppe land

scattered brown clumps 

of lumps seem dead

yet these tiny gems are grand.

This hidden world of living soil,

binding the soil, holding it in

from blowing wind, adding 

nutrients for plants indeed-

a  welcome gift the arid land needs.

This crusty world of living soil,

bursts with life when spring rain flows,

holding away the cheat grass growth

while stirring in greens that feed the earth:

Step lightly, protecting the gifts bestowed.

Sheri Edwards

National Poetry Month

4/4/26

Resources:

Patterns in biological soil crust recovery

PDF Publication

shrub-steppe, bryophytes,#napowrimo,#napowrimo26,poetry,National Poetry Month,poetry26,#clmooc,

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