Why Moab's Soil Crusts Matter with Sasha Reed

[@CeruleanSky1111]

Sasha is so enthusiastic. It's obvious she enjoys what she does. Great video!

[@finleyholiday]

Thank you! I really learned a lot going out with Sasha for this filming. She really loves her work and cares for the health of the high desert environment. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@alioreo2451]

Wow. Such a great informative video. Thank you for sharing. This is a bucket list destination for me.

[@finleyholiday]

Glad you enjoyed it! Sasha knows so much about the ecosystems here. And Moab is definitely a big bucket list place!

[@pprehn5268]

This true for all undeveloped soil microbiomes anywhere

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

What an excellent video short and to the point and so educational, anyone know what kind of opuntia that is at 2 minutes and 20 seconds? Wonder what the Mycorhyzae content of this soil is or if that's more of a forest agrarian as opposed to desert organism? A bit more educated now and enthusiastically Subscribed

[@finleyholiday]

Can’t say that I know, but I, too, am now a bit more educated having looked up optunia and mycorhyzae

[@kwindafidler7728]

sounds like the most interesting aspects are that it is useful to humans, cant it be fascinating just being it and doing what it does? without touching topics you get flooded from all sides already

[@finleyholiday]

I think most fascinating aspect is just the fact they survived so long in extreme conditions in isolated spots of dirt and rock. Tim being the scientist he is, felt it was an important point to help people understand that these creatures have benefited them in many ways in their daily lives even though they don’t realize it.

[@kwindafidler7728]

agree, they'd be also fascenating if they didnt have any connection to climate

[@finleyholiday]

My bad. I just realized I replied to the Moab ephemeral pools video. Coincidentally both Sasha and Tim are USGS biological research, scientist, though with different specialties

[@kwindafidler7728]

@@finleyholiday oh, i still agree

[@skybluskyblueify]

Don't biocrusts also help to reduce the size dust storms? Big haboobs are normal but just blowing dust from the desert also has valley fever spores that some people and animals, like pet dogs, can get. If we allow the biocrusts to return to how it was before it was extensively torn apart from people driving, dirt-biking, and massively trampling indiscriminately and not staying on trails, fewer people and pets may suffer from valley fever and just dust hurting vulnerable people's lungs. Agree/disagree?

[@finleyholiday]

@@skybluskyblueify definitely agree with that! Staying on trail when you’re in areas of sensitive soil - specially, in the desert - is really important. You can see there effects of that when you get high winds in places like Moab.