How 500 Animal Species Transform Earth’s Landscapes
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📰 The quick summary: Research reveals animals are reshaping Earth’s landscapes with energy equivalent to hundreds of thousands of river floods, highlighting their vital role in ecosystem engineering.
📈 One key stat: Over 500 wild animal species act as landscape engineers across the planet, with more than 25% of them being threatened or vulnerable species.
💬 One key quote: “Finding ways to harness the enormous energy potential of landscape-shaping animals could help simultaneously mitigate and adapt to climate change and boost biodiversity.”
1️⃣ The big picture: New research has uncovered the remarkable impact that animals have on shaping Earth’s physical landscapes. From tiny ants to massive elephants, hundreds of animal species act as natural landscape engineers by moving soils, building structures, and modifying waterways. Scientists have found that these animals invest energy equivalent to hundreds of thousands of river floods in reshaping the environment. The study identified 500 different species across land and freshwater habitats that actively modify their surroundings. Most notably, while freshwater habitats cover only 2.4% of Earth’s land surface, they host over a third of these landscape-engineering animals.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Animals play a much larger role in maintaining and enhancing Earth’s ecosystems than previously understood. Their landscape engineering activities help create diverse habitats, improve soil health, and contribute to natural flood control. In rewilding projects, animals like pigs, deer, and beavers increase carbon storage by modifying vegetation and soils. These natural architects create resilient landscapes that can better withstand climate change impacts. Their work in shaping the environment offers a powerful natural solution for both climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.
3️⃣ What’s next: Scientists need to expand research into understudied regions, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas where many landscape-engineering species likely remain undiscovered. Conservation efforts must prioritize protecting threatened animal engineers before their valuable ecosystem services are lost. Further studies can help understand how to best incorporate animal engineers into climate adaptation strategies and rewilding projects. This knowledge can guide the development of nature-based solutions that leverage animals’ natural engineering capabilities.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – How animals shape the planet in surprising ways
