"Hidden Biodiversity: Soil Holds Over Half of Earth's Species, Study Reveals"

A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that more than half of all species on Earth reside in the soil, making it the most species-rich habitat. Soil is home to 90% of fungi, 85% of plants, and over 50% of bacteria. Mammals, at 3%, are the group least associated with soils. The study highlights the importance of soil biodiversity for climate change feedbacks, global food security, and human health. However, soil remains understudied, and the actual figure of species living in soil could be even higher. The degradation of soil due to intensive farming, pollution, deforestation, and global heating poses a threat to soil biodiversity, but adopting less intensive agricultural practices and increasing habitat conservation can help restore and protect soil ecosystems.