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The researchers found that just one day of work by gophers has a positive effect on the affected region even after 40 years.
May 18, 1980 eruption St. Helens volcano ejected 1,5 million metric tons of sulfur dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere, and the lava flow burned everything in an area of almost 600 square kilometers. Three years later, wildlife experts turned to a team of local helpers - in 24 hours, they managed to significantly accelerate the restoration of the environment in the area, and the consequences are still felt, writes Popular Science.
It is not about human volunteers at all, but about a team of gophers. The first stage of the experiment, led by microbiologist Michael Allen from the University of California, began in 1983, three years after the eruption. On November 5, the team released several gophers in two areas:
- Pumice plain;
- Bear meadow.
Note that there were only a few struggling plants in these areas, which probably sprouted from seed dropped by the birds, the gophers were allowed to do whatever they wanted for 24 hours. Obviously, the rodents did what they do best — digging the ground.
According to Allen, gophers are often thought of as pests, but they also remove old soil and bring it to the surface, which is what scientists expected. The team hoped that the animals could help bring vital, fertilizing microorganisms such as endosymbiotic rhizobial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi to the surface.
The fact is that, with the exception of a few weeds, the roots of most plants cannot be efficient enough to obtain the necessary nutrients and water on their own. In fact, it is the fungi that transport these substances to the plants and receive in return the carbon necessary for their own growth.
Fortunately, the hopes of scientists came true. After 6 years, the scientists found that the work of the rodents led to the appearance of 40 healthy plants in both regions, as well as the return of the local population of gophers. The scientists compared the results to those of areas that remained rodent-free, and the difference was remarkable.
More than four decades later, new soil samples taken from the same regions still indicated a better presence of fungi and bacteria than in areas where gophers did not live. According to another co-author of the study, mycologist Mia Maltz, her and her colleagues' research highlights the importance of connected, sustainable and natural ecosystems.
Interestingly, in the 1980s, scientists simply wanted to test the short-term response of the environment to the presence of gophers, but the results indicate that even after 40 years, the effect of the work of rodents is still observed.
