Beneath the stones there is a life attached to them
Piles of stones in fields and along coastlines once appeared as a quirky pastime or a form of environmental art. Yet a growing body of research reveals a disturbing truth: moving and stacking stones harms the ecosystem that depends on them. The practice disrupts habitats and alters the microclimates that many species rely on for shelter and survival.
Scientists have documented increased stone removal and stacking, a trend linked to a global online wave that spreads through social media. The involvement of the Supreme Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and its partners in an international study underscores the environmental costs—harm to a wide range of animal and plant species, some of which are endangered. The concern has been noted in scientific journals, with observations dating back two years in protected areas around the world, including Spain, where regions such as the Balearic and Canary Islands report instances along coastal zones and beyond.
What happens under the rocks
So what exactly is the damage? The structures created by piling rocks transform animal and plant habitats that rely on crevices and the microhabitats that stones help create. When a stone is lifted, the tiny worlds beneath—homes for insects, spiders, worms, and other small creatures—are exposed or destroyed. This disruption reaches beyond a single species and can cascade through predator-prey dynamics and competition among organisms.
Despite the visible appeal of stacked stones, the result is a patchwork of isolated microhabitats that fail to support the complex community life living beneath them. The temperature and humidity patterns under and around the stones are essential for many invertebrates, snails, and other small species. The arrangement of stones, in turn, influences how species interact and how easily predators and competitors access food resources.
In many arid and semi-arid regions, these microclimates are critical. Moving or removing stones can erode soils, damage vegetation, and tilt the balance of entire ecosystems. A CSIC researcher from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies explains that the practice poses a real risk to biodiversity, especially in areas where shelter under stones is a key survival strategy for local fauna (Traveset, CSIC, 2023).
The consequences extend to habitats where specialized species rely on stone-built microhabitats for shelter and reproduction. The cause-and-effect chain includes altered predator–prey dynamics and reduced microhabitat availability for invertebrates, gastropods, and arachnids that depend on these stone arrangements for protection and microclimate stability.
Experts highlight several case studies where habitat degradation linked to rock mounds has threatened endemic species with small distributions. On Madeira, for example, habitat changes associated with stone construction threaten unique kelp communities and the rare Atlantic Riccia, a plant species listed by conservation groups as critically endangered. Endemic lizards such as Teira dugesii, and island-specific invertebrates in the Balearics and Pitiusas, rely on rocky refuges that are increasingly compromised by this trend.
“Don’t let the stones move”
There is a clear message from researchers: many species depend on stones for shelter, and visitors to sensitive protected areas should avoid moving stones. Following established guidelines helps reduce impact. The consequences of seemingly harmless acts like stacking piles in places with vulnerable or threatened species are not easily predicted, says Traveset.
The scientific community is calling for cautious action and policy responses. Authorities are urged to restrict stone construction and dismantle existing mounds to prevent new ones. The CSIC researchers describe the practice as a serious encroachment on natural landscapes that deserves attention and action.
There have been real-world responses in some municipalities. Some cities have begun imposing fines for creating rock piles in natural areas, with penalties reaching thousands of euros in certain cases. These measures reflect a growing recognition that small, repeated actions can accumulate into substantial environmental harm.
Public awareness campaigns emphasize avoiding contact with sensitive habitats and reporting observed violations to environmental authorities. The aim is to protect ecological integrity while balancing cultural and recreational uses of landscapes. The broader takeaway is simple: even small, well-meaning acts can ripple through ecosystems in unexpected and lasting ways (CSIC, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 2023).
Inquiries about protective measures and ongoing research can be directed toward environmental agencies and conservation groups that monitor habitat health in protected regions. This is not merely about aesthetics or personal choice; it is about preserving the delicate balance that sustains local biodiversity.