September 16, 2023
According to a study, Takakia, the oldest moss in the world, which has been able to survive for millions of years, is facing threats due to climate change. Found in the Himalayas and parts of USA and Japan, this moss is one of the fastest-evolving species ever discovered. Scientists went on numerous expeditions to the Himalayas and studied the 390-million-year-old species for about a decade to understand its ability to adapt. According to their findings, Takakia evolved over time to fix broken DNA and recover from the impact of the sun’s UV radiation because of which it has been able to survive in the most extreme environments. Scientists believe that glacial melting is exposing the moss to very high levels of UV radiation as compared to before, which is threatening its continued survival.
Did You Know?
It is estimated that at the end of the 21st century, regions with conditions suitable for the survival of Takakia will reduce to around 1,000 to 1,500 sq kms across the world.
Takakia Moss | Image Source: wikipedia.org
