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.