Animals play a significant role in shaping our planet’s geology, a fact that has long been overlooked. While we are familiar with the forces of nature like wind, rain, and glaciers that shape landscapes, new research sheds light on the transformative power of animals.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA reveals that wild freshwater and terrestrial species, from salmon to elephants, exert a staggering 76,000 gigajoules of energy annually to alter the land around them. This energy output is equivalent to the impact of thousands of extreme floods, highlighting the immense influence of animals on Earth’s surface.
Beavers are well-known for their construction skills, but other animals also play a crucial role in shaping landscapes. Despite the extensive nest building and den digging activities of various species, their global significance has often been underestimated. Lead author Gemma L. Harvey, a physical geographer at Queen Mary University of London, challenges this perception, emphasizing the importance of animals in the process of landform evolution.
The field of study that explores the changes in landforms caused by animals is known as zoogeomorphology. While Charles Darwin recognized the role of earthworms in soil formation as early as 1881, it wasn’t until 1992 that the term was officially coined by physical geographer David Butler. Butler’s research on the erosional impact of grizzly bears in Glacier National Park paved the way for a deeper understanding of how animals contribute to shaping the Earth’s surface.
Harvey’s team analyzed 500 species to uncover the diverse ways in which animals impact the landscape. From trampling hippos creating new river channels to burrowing crayfish widening river banks, the study highlights the significant transformations animals bring about in their habitats. Termite mounds, covering an area equivalent to Iceland in Brazil, showcase the massive scale of impact that animals can have on the land.
Geomorphologist Brian Yanites praises the study for its macro-level approach to understanding the role of animals in landscape evolution. While the estimated energy output of 76,000 gigajoules may be a conservative figure, as many biodiversity hotspots were excluded from the analysis, the research underscores the profound influence of animals on Earth’s geology.
This groundbreaking study challenges the notion that animals are merely passive inhabitants of the environment. By shedding light on the transformative power of wildlife, it opens up new avenues for research and appreciation of the intricate relationship between animals and the planet. As we continue to explore the dynamic forces that shape our world, animals emerge as powerful sculptors of the Earth’s surface.
