Wellcome to the web page of the Second International Workshop on Biological Soil Cruts: Biological Soil Crusts in a Changing World (Biocrust 2013)
 
This international workshop, which follows the successful first workshop celebrated in Germany in 2010, is devoted to disseminate recent advances in our knowledge of the ecology of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and their importance as a key driver of ecosystem structure and functioning.

The main objective of this Workshop is to trigger an exchange of ideas and results, to discuss possible new theories/approaches, and to provide a forum to facilitate the collaboration among the growing international community of scientists working with BSCs.

This international meeting will take place at the Faculty of Pharmacy, The Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, between 10th and 13rd of June, 2013. The meeting will cover any aspect related to BSCs, including the following topics:

• Diversity, ecology and biogeography of BSCs
 
• Mapping, monitoring and management of BSCs
 
• Role of BSCs in ecosystems
 
• Taxonomy of BSC constituents
 
• Disturbance and restoration of BSCs
 
• Interaction between BSCs and vascular plant vegetation

 

• Effects of global environmental change on BSCs

The meeting will include invited plenary talks, contributed oral sessions, poster sessions, a field trip and some open, informal sessions to facilitate the exchange of ideas and protocols on key issues surrounding BSC ecology.