Zoogeochemistry
By: Georgia Randall, Grasslands Program Ecologist and PhD candidate, Odonata
When trying to explain the topic I will be dedicating the next four years of my life to as part of my PhD, my Grandma understandably asked, “Zoo-what-now?” I must admit it sounds rather fancy, but in reality it follows a simple, holistic concept: everything in the natural world is inexplicably linked.
Zoogeochemistry explores the influence of animals on the chemical processes within ecosystems, such as nutrient cycling and soil health. For a long time, soil chemistry research focused primarily on vegetation, fungi, and bacteria. However, recent rewilding initiatives that return endemic vertebrate species to landscapes — and the critical functions they provide — have prompted growing recognition of the significant role animals play in soil dynamics. The concept of “Animating the Carbon Cycle” is a strong example, with researchers at Yale University examining how behaviours like grazing, trampling, predation, and foraging influence soil carbon dynamics worldwide.
The movement of carbon and other greenhouse gases through soil and vegetation is a natural process that has occurred throughout time. Leaf litter, decaying matter, and faecal matter are broken down into nutrients and carbon, which in turn support vegetation growth or are stored long-term in the soil, resulting in healthy landscapes. Given that soil storage accounts for around a third of the world’s carbon stocks, it is critical to understand the role vertebrates play in sequestering (storing) or releasing carbon — particularly as atmospheric carbon increases and biodiversity loss continues.
And who knows — maybe Mt Rothwell’s little diggers play a big role in locking away carbon and, in their tiny paws, hold the power to breathe life back into the landscapes that need it most.