<h2>Two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity lives in the soil</h2>
<p>Coral reefs, the deep sea, and the rainforest treetops are often hailed as the main hotspots of biodiversity. However, a new study reveals that soils actually contain the highest species richness worldwide. This finding emphasizes the immense importance of soils for human nutrition. Unfortunately, the global proportion of degraded or destroyed soils is continuously increasing. To address this issue, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, the University of Zurich, and the Agroscope agricultural research station have conducted the first estimation of global soil biodiversity.</p>
<p>By delving into existing scientific literature and reevaluating data sets on identified soil species, the trio of researchers found that two-thirds of all species reside in the soil. This figure is more than twice as high as previous estimates, which suggested that only 25% of all species live in the soil. Fungi, accounting for 90% of soil-dwelling species, have the highest representation, followed by plants and their roots at 86%. Earthworms and mollusks, including snails, make up 20% of soil-dwelling species.</p>
<p>However, the researchers note that the diversity of very small organisms such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, and unicellular organisms has not been adequately estimated. These microorganisms play vital roles in nutrient recycling, carbon storage, and their interactions with trees as both pathogens and partners.</p>
<p>The study also reveals that there is a significant lack of data on soil diversity, particularly in the global South, leading to substantial uncertainty in the results. For instance, the range of bacterial species living in the soil varies from 25% to 88%. Similarly, there are significant uncertainties surrounding the study of viruses, which are mainly researched as human pathogens. Despite the potential criticisms of their methods and conclusions, the researchers view their work as an important first step towards understanding the proportion of global biodiversity that exists in the soil.</p>
<p>The objective of this study is to provide a foundation for informed decisions that can effectively protect soils and their inhabitants worldwide. Soils face numerous threats, including agricultural intensification, climate change, and invasive species. Recognizing the significant diversity present in soils emphasizes the need to prioritize their conservation efforts.</p>
<h2>References</h2>
<p>Mark A. Anthony et al, Enumerating soil biodiversity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). <a href=”https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2304663120″>DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304663120</a></p>
<p>Provided by Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL</p>
<p>Citation: Two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity lives in the soil (2023, August 8) retrieved 8 August 2023 from <a href=”https://phys.org/news/2023-08-two-thirds-world-biodiversity-soil.html”>https://phys.org/news/2023-08-two-thirds-world-biodiversity-soil.html</a></p>
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