Scientists have discovered that animals shaping the earth move soil and rock on a scale previously underestimated by researchers.
Recent scientific research has revealed that animals shaping the Earth is a phenomenon far more significant than previously understood. Wild creatures move earth on a scale that equals the effect of hundreds of thousands of major floods each year, fundamentally altering landscapes across the globe.
The tiny Brazilian termite Syntermes dirus offers a remarkable example of this power. Although less than an inch long, this industrious insect constructs earthen mounds that reach up to four meters in height throughout eastern Brazil.
These termites have created approximately 90 million mounds across an area the size of Virginia. The total earth moved by these small creatures equals 900 Great Pyramids of Egypt, making them powerful geological engineers.
Research led by Gemma Harvey at Queen Mary University of London shows the role of animals in shaping Earth’s landscapes is much more significant than previously recognized. Harvey studies how organisms interact with Earth’s surface.
Harvey’s team uncovered nearly 500 wild species actively reshaping landscapes through their daily activities. These animals range from microscopic ants to massive African elephants, each contributing to Earth’s ever-changing topography.
Some creatures accelerate erosion processes that typically occur over centuries. Hippopotamus trails, for instance, gradually develop into complex creek networks as water follows their established paths.
Others, like the Brazilian termites, gather and compact soil to build elaborate structures. Many animals simply dig burrows, creating extensive underground networks that other species later expand and modify.
The approximately 20 quadrillion ants on Earth may seem insignificant as they move soil one grain at a time, but their collective impact creates substantial changes to the planet’s surface over time.
To quantify how animals shaping the Earth translates to geological impact, Harvey’s research team developed an innovative methodology. They examined existing studies of land and freshwater organisms with measured earth-moving abilities, then estimated the global biomass of these species.
By calculating how much energy these animals expend moving earth, they arrived at a startling conclusion: wild animals collectively use about 76,000 gigajoules of energy yearly to reshape Earth’s surface. This equals the effect of more than half a million major river floods.
The research highlights the crucial role of diverse natural processes performed by animals in maintaining ecosystem health, yet these processes face threats as biodiversity declines worldwide. The loss of these earth-moving species could have far-reaching consequences.
Some well-known examples of animals shaping the Earth include beavers, which transform entire valleys with their dams; salmon, which disturb river bottoms when building nests; and grizzly bears, which excavate hillsides in search of roots and edible plants.
However, these familiar examples represent just a small fraction of all creatures actively moving on Earth. The combined effect creates what could be described as a subtle, continuous, planet-spanning remodelling process that never ceases.
The research reveals that domesticated animals have an even greater impact on landscape formation. Cows, goats, sheep, and other hoofed livestock exert approximately 450 times more earth-moving power than wild animals, totalling an estimated 34.5 million gigajoules annually.
While the researchers did not calculate the human impact in their study, our effect likely overshadows that of all other species combined. When considering human biomass, as well as the energy we harness to power bulldozers, excavators, and other earth-moving machinery, our geological footprint is unprecedented in Earth’s history.
This groundbreaking research fundamentally alters our understanding of landscape formation. Traditionally, geologists have attributed most surface changes to physical forces, such as wind, water, and temperature fluctuations. Now we must recognize that animals shaping the Earth play a much larger role in this process than scientists previously thought.
The effects vary widely depending on the species involved. Some animals, like tortoises, create initial burrows that later become homes for mice, crickets, and other creatures, gradually expanding into complex underground ecosystems.
Other creatures, like the Brazilian termites mentioned earlier, function as true architects of the landscape. Their mounds, discovered in 2015, were described by scientists as “the greatest example of insect ecosystem engineering at a landscape scale.”
These findings highlight the intricate relationships between animals and their environments. As species disappear due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, their earth-moving functions may also be lost, with unpredictable consequences.
Scientists now recognize how critical these biological processes are to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Animals shaping the Earth create microhabitats, influence water flow patterns, affect soil composition, and provide homes for countless other organisms.
The research demonstrates nature’s profound interconnectedness. Even seemingly insignificant organisms can have outsized effects when their actions accumulate over generations and across large populations.
Harvey’s team took a conservative approach in their calculations, estimating that animals use only 1% of their total energy for earth-moving activities. This suggests the actual impact could be substantially greater than their already impressive figures indicate.
See also: The Animals That Can Help us Reach our Climate Goals
This research comes at a critical time when biodiversity loss threatens many of these natural earth-moving species. As animal populations decline worldwide, we may observe significant changes in erosion patterns, soil structure, and landscape features that were previously maintained by animals shaping the Earth.
Understanding these relationships could inform more effective conservation strategies. Protecting key species might preserve not just the animals themselves but their important ecological functions that maintain healthy landscapes.
The study also raises important questions about how human development affects these natural processes. As we transform landscapes through agriculture, urbanization, and resource extraction, we may be disrupting ancient patterns of animal-driven earth moving that have shaped ecosystems for millions of years.
For city planners and land managers, this research suggests the importance of considering animal activities when designing green spaces and managing natural areas. Creating habitat for earth-moving species could maintain important ecological functions.
Scientists will likely continue measuring these effects with greater precision as technology improves and research methods advance. Future studies might examine how climate change alters animal earth-moving behaviours and their subsequent impact on landscapes.
The humble termite and other seemingly insignificant creatures remind us that nature’s engineering often rivals our own human efforts in scale and complexity. Animals shaping the Earth collectively transform the very ground beneath our feet, highlighting the remarkable power of biological processes to influence geology.
