3 Heat kills desert bacteria

The surface of a desert is teeming with bacteria, which make up a solid crust that prevents sand storms and desertification. Now, scientists have discovered that the M. vaginatus cyanobacterium, which is one of two dominant desert bacterium species, will be wiped out, if temperatures continue to rise. That could have unknown consequences for the world's desert ecosystems. The bacterium binds nitrogen and carbon to the ground, so plants and animals can find nutrition.

S C H O L O F O R E ST R Y/ N O R T H E R N A R IZ O N A U N I V E R S IT Y When desert bacteria die, the ground will be deprived of nutrients.