The Earliest Stages Of Ecosystem Succession In High-Elevation (5000 Meters Above Sea Level), Recently Deglaciated Soils

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 27 Aug 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Global climate change has accelerated the pace of glacial retreat in high latitude and high elevation environments, exposing lands that remain devoid of vegetation for many years.

The exposure of "new" soil is particularly apparent at high elevations (5000 m above sea level) in the Peruvian Andes, where extreme environmental conditions hinder plant colonization.

In this paper we show that these seemingly barren soils contain a diverse photosynthetic community of microorganisms that can grow using gaseous forms of carbon and nitrogen from the thin atmosphere and stabilize the soil many years before the establishment of mosses, lichens, or vascular plants.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences