Moss Eats Rocks explores the surprising role of mosses in reshaping our planet through chemical weathering. Often overlooked, these tiny plants actively break down rocks, influencing soil formation, nutrient cycling, and even climate regulation.
The book highlights the fascinating mechanisms by which mosses, using rhizoids and secreting organic acids, contribute significantly to biogeochemical cycles. It challenges the traditional view that weathering is solely driven by physical forces, revealing how mosses actively sculpt landscapes.
This book progresses from introducing basic weathering concepts and moss adaptations to detailing chemical processes and their ecological consequences across diverse environments, such as arctic tundra and temperate forests.
By examining plant-rock interactions at a micro-scale, using advanced imaging techniques, the book quantifies mosses' contribution to weathering rates. This interdisciplinary approach connects earth sciences, biology, and ecology, providing a unique understanding of moss-mediated weathering and its wider implications for carbon sequestration and environmental science.
