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Study Reveals Animals' Crucial Role in Shaping Earth's Landscapes

New research highlights the significant geomorphological impact of wildlife and warns of the consequences of biodiversity loss.

  • A study by Queen Mary University of London demonstrates how animals like beavers, termites, and salmon reshape ecosystems and landscapes.
  • Wildlife collectively exerts geomorphological energy comparable to 'hundreds of thousands of extreme floods,' according to the research.
  • The study analyzed over 500 wild species and found nearly 30% are rare, endemic, or threatened, raising concerns about biodiversity loss.
  • Nutrient transport and sedimentation by species such as freshwater crayfish and hippos significantly influence rivers and wetlands.
  • Domesticated animals, like cattle and yaks, are estimated to have a geomorphological impact 450 times greater than wild species due to their sheer numbers.
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