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News Release 17-115
Dust on the wind: Study reveals surprising role of dust in mountain ecosystems
Southern Sierra Nevada forests rely on nutrients from windborne dust
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![Sierra Nevada Mountain forests](/news/mmg/media/images/Image Five_f.jpg)
Sierra Nevada Mountain forests receive a large percentage of their nutrients from windborne dust.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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![Trees anchored in bedrock](/news/mmg/media/images/Image Three_f.jpg)
Trees anchored in bedrock break up the rock and create soil, but most nutrients come from dust.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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![pine needle trees'](/news/mmg/media/images/Image Seven_f.jpg)
What stories they tell: Jeffrey pine needles have a record of the trees' dust-derived nutrients.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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![Scientists sampled live pine needles](/news/mmg/media/images/Image Two_f.jpg)
Scientists sampled live pine needles to measure nutrients from dust and from bedrock.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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![Pine needles](/news/mmg/media/images/image one_f_538a81b8-97b2-4360-8757-b3bd27b8b8a7.jpg)
Pine needles revealed how Sierra Nevada conifers use nutrients from windborne dust.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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![mountain ecosystems](/news/mmg/media/images/Image Six_f.jpg)
Windborne dust plays a large role in mountain ecosystems around the world.
Credit: Lindsay Arvin
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