Widespread colonization by polar hypoliths

Cockell, Charles S.; Stokes, M. Dale. 2004 Widespread colonization by polar hypoliths. Nature, 431 (7007). 414. 10.1038/431414a

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Abstract/Summary

High-latitude polar deserts are among the most extreme environments on Earth. Here we describe a large and previously unappreciated habitat for photosynthetic life under opaque rocks in the Arctic and Antarctic polar deserts. This habitat is created by the periglacial movement of the rocks, which allows some light to reach their underside. The productivity of this ecosystem is at least as great as that of above-ground biomass and potentially doubles previous productivity estimates for the polar desert ecozone.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/431414a
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds
ISSN:	0028-0836
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	12 Jan 2012 15:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12132

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