An international team of scientists from the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and other countries has identified a major global threat to the diversity of underground organisms. It turned out to be soil pollution, the negative impact of which is stronger than the consequences of climate change. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine iScience.
The team’s findings are based on analysis of data from more than 600 previous papers, including information on soils from thousands of different locations around the world.
The findings suggest that loss of forest cover due to global warming would have little impact on worms, mites, insects and other underground life.
However, exposure of soils to pesticides, heavy metals and plastics can disrupt the ecological balance, significantly reducing the number of species living in them.
Despite the alarming discovery, scientists also found many positive changes. The most significant effect was the use of compost and mulch (organic materials that cover the ground), which add more carbon to the soil. This greatly benefits the worms, who in turn enrich the soil with nutrients and help oxygenate it.
Earlier scientists I learnedIt has been revealed that contamination of soil with nanoplastics prevents plants from photosynthesizing.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.