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Table 3 Frequency of hypolithic photoautotrophs within different hot and cold deserts

From: Ecological characterization of soil-inhabiting and hypolithic soil crusts within the Knersvlakte, South Africa

Location

Frequency of hypolithic photoautotrophs (%)

Rock type

Annual precipitation (mm)

Reference

Hot deserts

    

Mojave Desert, USA

100

Quartz

83

Schlesinger et al. (2003)

Knersvlakte, South Africa

69

Quartz

126

This study

Negev Desert, Israel

46.8

Dark flint

76

Berner and Evenari (1978)

Mainland of Baja California, Mexico

38

Quartz

53

Heckman et al. 2006

Islands of Baja California, Mexico

26

Quartz

53

Heckman et al. 2006

Negev Desert, Israel

20.9

Light flint

76

Berner and Evenari (1978)

Cold deserts

Alexander Island, Antarctica

86–100

“Opaque rocks”

-

Cockell and Stokes 2006

Devon and Cornwallis Island, Canada

95 and 94

“Opaque rocks”

-

Cockell and Stokes 2006

Atacama Desert, Chile

80

Quartz

- (Fog input)

Azúa-Bustos et al. 2011

High altitude tundra, central Tibet

36

Quartz

-

Wong et al. 2010

Copiapó, Atacama Desert, Chile

27.6

Quartz and quartzite

~ 110

Warren-Rhodes et al. 2006

McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

22

Quartz

- (Snowmelt influence)

Pointing et al. 2009

McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

4.9

Quartz

-

Pointing et al. 2009

Yungay, Atacama Desert, Chile

0

Quartz and quartzite

~ 5

Warren-Rhodes et al. 2006

  1. Additional information is given on the colonized rock type, the annual precipitation within the region (as far as available), and the reference of the data.