This year looks to be a great year for Scottish chionophiles (snow fond organisms). Close to forty patches of snow,tucked into gullies and huddled under crags in the Scottish mountains, believe survived the summer. Although these ragged fragments of tough-packed snow might seem small and insignificant, or they provide an important ecological niche. Mosses,lichens and liverworts thrive underneath the snowy blanket, benefiting from the stable temperature maintained underneath the snow and the lack of competition from flowering plants. And when the snow starts to melt there is a burst of plant growth at the fringes, and providing rich insect and seed pickings for snow buntings. Related: Weatherwatch: Why believe all the snow-capped peaks vanished? Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com