Abstract:Microbiotic soil crust exists in desertification\|prone areas.The authors overviews the significant role,which microbiotic crust plays in desertification and its recovery processes.This paper focuses on the concept of crusts,the influence of crust on ecosystem and landscape change,including hydrological cycle,soil erosion,soil nutrient cycle,seedling establishment and growth of vascular plant,animal diversity,landscape heterogeneity,assessment of ecosystem change,and response of crust to disturbance and its...