Gophers' Role in Reviving Mount St. Helens' Landscape
TL;DR Summary
Scientists have discovered that northern pocket gophers can significantly aid in the restoration of devastated landscapes, such as Mount St. Helens after its 1980 eruption. By burrowing, these rodents help distribute beneficial microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi, which enhance plant growth and resilience. This process has led to a remarkable recovery of plant life in areas where gophers were introduced, highlighting the critical role of microbial communities in ecosystem recovery.
Topics:science#ecosystem-restoration#environment#gophers#mount-st-helens#mycorrhizal-fungi#volcanic-eruption
- The Secret Magic Of Gophers To Help Restore Devastated Landscapes Forbes
- Scientists Dropped Gophers Onto Mount St Helens For 1 Day. 40 Years Later, The Effect Is Astonishing IFLScience
- When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, a team of gophers were helicoptered in to bring it back to life BBC Discover Wildlife
- How a single gopher restored a landscape devastated by a volcano New Scientist
- How a crew of gophers helped Mount St. Helens bounce back Popular Science
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