The article explains that tree bark forms a vast, hitherto little-noticed surface on which microbes capable of processing methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide live.[3][1] The authors report that the global area of tree bark is approximately 143 million km², almost as much as the land area.[3] Based on the results of the study by Leung et al. emphasizes that microbes in the crust actively influence the flow of these trace gases between ecosystems and the atmosphere.[3][1] The crust thus represents an important, previously overlooked component of global greenhouse gas biogeochemistry.[3] Depending on the conditions, microbial communities on the bark can either consume or produce gases, thereby modifying climatically important gases directly on the surface of the trees.[1][3] The paper suggests that this knowledge has implications for modeling global gas cycles and for climate planning and forest management.[1][3]