Fermin Koop, writes: Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research found 59% of all species depend on the soil for their survival, including 90% of fungi, 86% of plants and 40% of bacteria. A previous study in 2006 estimated only 26% of species lived in the soil, but only considered certain types of organisms.
More than half of Earth’s species live underground.
Two-thirds of all known species live in the soil, making it the most species-rich habitat on Earth, according to a new study. This more than doubles previous estimates of soil biodiversity and shows how important soils are for all of us, the researchers said, calling for further conservation efforts to protect them from their multiple threats.
Picture: Phys.org
Read more: https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/more-than-half-of-earths-species-live-underground/