The climate that Earth experienced millions of years ago could reveal more about the health of soils and their capacity to store carbon dioxide than current climates, a new study has shown.
Bilbies, bettongs and echidnas play a beneficial role in the arid environment by foraging for food – a behaviour that alters the composition of bacteria and fungi in the soil, UNSW research shows.
An increase in aridity due to global warming will disturb the balance of nutrients in the soil and reduce productivity of the world’s drylands, which support millions of people, a landmark study predicts.
