Little research has been devoted to understanding the effect of light on the growth and development of cryptobiotic crust, and essential component of desert ecology. The MQP studied the effect of UV light on the growth of Microcoleus, Nostoc, and Scytonema. Growth analysis and microscopy showed that UV alone killed most of the cultures, through Scytonema (alone or mixed) had the most resistance. The mixture of Microcoleus, Nostoc and Scytonema most closely mimicked the crust growth in all conditions.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Harvey, Caitlin Elizabeth
• Hanifen, Rebecca

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 04D049M

Advisor

• Crusberg, Theodore C.

Year

• 2004

Date created

• 2004-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright