Can large animals help combat climate change? Researchers in Newfoundland are exploring how moose and caribou contribute to carbon cycling in ecosystems. This research highlights the often-overlooked role of animals in balancing carbon exchange between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Kristy Ferraro from Memorial University is studying how these herbivores consume and redistribute plant biomass. They also influence soil composition through trampling and nutrient deposition. This process creates a loop where animals support ecosystems, and ecosystems support animals.
Oswald Schmitz's 2018 study emphasizes that animals mediate carbon exchange. Climate change and habitat loss have reduced large mammal populations, diminishing their carbon cycling effect. Understanding and supporting these animal populations could offer valuable climate solutions.
Shawn Leroux, also from Memorial University, notes that moose eating plants releases carbon, but their droppings nourish new growth. Elizabeth Forbes is using robots to measure animal carbon cycling, focusing on the relationship between herbivores and soil microbes. These efforts aim to understand how to maximize carbon storage underground.
While animal carbon cycling research is still in its early stages, it shows promise as a nature-based climate solution. Researchers are working to understand how animal populations, body size, and feeding habits impact carbon cycling. This knowledge could lead to innovative conservation methods, such as trophic rewilding, to enhance carbon capture.