Researchers from the Swiss Federal Department of Agriculture found that most life on Earth is in soil, with up to 59% (+ -15%) of all living organisms on the planet living in soil. Study published magazine Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The experts analyzed previous work on the study of biodiversity on Earth. According to his calculations, 88% of bacteria, 85% of plants and 90% of fungi live in soil. Of the more than 6,500 mammal species, only about 4% live underground.
The new biodiversity estimate is twice as high as previously thought. But scientists say even more organisms may be living in the soil because they don’t account for viruses.
“Organisms in the soil have a powerful impact on the balance of our planet: climate change, global food security, and even human health,” the authors said.
Scientists hope to conduct a series of studies on the bowels of the Earth. They are sure that there may be many species that were previously unknown to science.
Previously, scientists at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean to create previously unknown ecosystem.