Temps Will Kill Lichen, Moss Across 40% Of Tundra Regions - New Scientist

[hatrack]

The cold, barren tundra, home to little more than a velvety carpet of moss and lichen, could become dominated by bush and forests within decades

ONE of the world's great landscapes could soon disappear. The cold, barren Arctic tundra, home to not much more than a sweeping velvety carpet of moss and lichen, could become dominated by bush and forests within decades. And global warming will be to blame.

A 10-year study across eight countries reveals that rising temperatures will kill off lichen and moss across up to 40 per cent of the tundra, while encouraging woody plant species to grow in their place. The trees and shrubs will then accelerate warming because dark vegetation absorbs more solar radiation.

An international team of researchers studied Arctic sites from Alaska and Canada to Iceland and the Norwegian territory of Svalbard, as well as three mountainous tundra regions further south, including the Tibetan plateau. To mimic the effects of global warming they surrounded patches of tundra with transparent open-topped enclosures and warmed them by 1 to 3 (degrees).

EDIT

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/mg18925354.600

[bettyellen]

1. lichens can be split into two different living life forms

they are like 1/2 plant, 1/2 fungus. once split, you can't put them back together again.
scary.

[xchrom]

2. makes you wonder if we will survive.