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    • 40 years ago, the Gophers were plunged into a post-apocalyptic scene. They ch
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    40 years ago, the Gophers were plunged into a post-apocalyptic scene. They ch

    Umito Posted on

    A recent study published in Frontiers in Microbiomes found that gophers played a crucial role in recovering plant life in the area devastated by the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The study describes how areas where gophers were introduced show lasting changes in fungal and bacterial communities, unlike neighboring areas where gophers were never added.

    In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens devastated local ecosystems, covering 22,000 square miles with 540 million tons of ash and rendering the landscape barren. In 1983, the areas around Mount St. Helens chosen for the Gopher Experiment were piles of “collapsed slabs of porous pumice.” Scientists Michael Allen and James McMahon of Utah State University flew by helicopter to an area where lava had turned the earth into collapsing slabs of porous pumice.

    At that time, only about a dozen plants had learned to live on these pumice slabs. A few seeds were dropped by birds, but the resulting seedlings struggled. In an experimental effort to help the ecosystem recover, scientists introduced gophers into the burned area of ​​Mount St. Helens for just 24 hours, believing they might bring beneficial bacteria and fungi to the surface by digging and disturbing the ground. The scientists were correct in their hypothesis that gophers’ digging habits could attract beneficial microorganisms and provide a boost to ecosystem regeneration.

    In just 24 hours, the waffle work seemed magical, making a remarkable impact despite spending just one day in the area. Six years after the experiment, 40,000 plants were thriving in the Gopher plots. The untouched land remained largely barren, containing only a handful of struggling plants that likely germinated from seeds left behind by birds. Scientists did not anticipate that the effects of this brief experiment would remain evident in the soil 40 years later, as new soil samples indicated an increased presence of fungi and bacteria in areas harboring gophers.

    Michael Allen said: “Who would have predicted that you could dump a gopher for a day and see a residual effect 40 years later? » Although gophers deserve credit for their unusual role in recovery, the real star of the effort are mushrooms, which have played a crucial role in Mount St. Helens’ recovery efforts. Soil microorganisms are essential to nutrient cycling and plant growth, and they interact with plants, helping them access nutrients and water. Mycorrhizal fungi enter plant root cells to exchange nutrients and resources, helping plants establish and survive in infertile locations. These fungi can also help protect plants from pathogens in the soil.

    On one side of Mount St. Helens was an old-growth forest. Ash from the volcano covered the trees, trapping solar radiation and causing the needles of pine, spruce and Douglas fir trees to overheat and drop. Scientists feared that the loss of the needles would cause the forest to collapse. However, this did not happen, thanks to the mushrooms. Fungi have helped trees like the pines and spruces of Mount St. Helens bounce back quickly by recycling nutrients from fallen needles, with mycorrhizal fungi playing a crucial role in this process.

    Emma Aronson said: “It was shocking to look at the floor of an ancient forest and compare it to the dead zone. » In contrast, another area nearby had been clear-cut before the eruption. Logging had removed acres of every tree, so there were no more fallen needles to feed the fungi in the soil, contributing to the barrenness of the area more than 40 years later. “There’s still not much growing in the clearcut area,” Aronson said. She found it “shocking to look at the floor of an old-growth forest and compare it to the dead zone.”

    The shocking and lasting impact of a small intervention by tiny creatures inspires creative methods to save the environment, even after extreme natural disasters. Small animals and microorganisms, like gophers and mushrooms, can have a profound impact on recovery after a natural disaster, highlighting the importance of even the smallest creatures in ecological recovery. These findings highlight how much there is to learn about rescuing struggling ecosystems, reminding us of the interdependence of ecosystems and the importance of even the smallest creatures in ecological recovery.

    Mia Maltz, lead author of the study and mycologist from the University of Connecticut, said: “We cannot ignore the interconnectedness of all things in nature, especially those we cannot see like microbes and mushrooms. » The study highlights the need for continued research into ecological restoration efforts. Gophers couldn’t have done it alone, and the research highlights the power of cross-species teamwork operating beyond what’s visible to the naked eye.

    Gophers, a burrowing species, spread a mixture of soil microbes, seeds and beneficial fungi from their droppings into new environments. The study also identified other carriers of useful microorganisms. The lasting impact of this small intervention by tiny creatures inspires creative methods to save the environment, even after extreme natural disasters.

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    Sources: IFLScience, Gizmodo, SciTech Daily, New Scientist

    This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq



    Umito
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