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News Release 09-218
Climate Change, Nitrogen Loss Threaten Plant Life in Arid Desert Soils
Mojave Desert research shows that nitrogen is second only to water in importance
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Venture into the scorching summertime Mojave in this audio slideshow.
Credit: Lisa Raffensperger, National Science Foundation
Nitrogen loss in a non-desert system happens primarily through biological processes and water leaching. In a desert, in the summer, however, the soil layer heats up so much that microorganisms are not active enough to release nitrogen; neither is there enough water to cause significant leaching. Researchers have found that the heat itself causes large reactive nitrogen species evaporation.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
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Sunset over the Mojave Desert: Will its plant life wane in response to global warming?
Credit: Jed Sparks
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In the Mojave Desert, shrubs create islands of plant life.
Credit: Jed Sparks
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Carrie McCalley installs "soil collars" used to measure nitrogen flux in desert soils.
Credit: Jed Sparks
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Soil collars rest in the spaces between plants and under evergreen shrubs.
Credit: Jed Sparks
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A close-up of a nitrogen measurement lid under a shrub common in the Mojave Desert.
Credit: Jed Sparks
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After the rains come to the Mojave, shrubs and other plant life turn a bright green.
Credit: Jed Sparks
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The researchers' findings are published in the Nov. 6 issue of the journal Science.
Credit: Copyright 2009 AAAS
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