Researchers Push for Animal Inclusion in Carbon Cycle Models

Global carbon cycle models usually consider plants, microbes, soil, and the atmosphere but often overlook animals. From earthworms to elephants, these creatures can play a crucial, yet understudied, role in carbon capture and storage within ecosystems.

In a new theoretical framework published in the Journal of Geophysical Research:

Biogeosciences by Matteo Rizzuto and colleagues, a roadmap is presented for integrating animals into carbon cycle models. Their research reveals that incorporating both herbivores and predators into these models can significantly change both the quantity and dynamics of carbon cycling.

Incorporating Animals into Carbon Models

Researchers argue that future carbon dynamics models, crucial for understanding climate change and developing nature-based carbon sequestration initiatives, should account for animals.

Animals influence carbon cycling directly by consuming plants or other animals that consume plants. Additionally, through waste production, respiration, and even trampling forest foliage, they indirectly accelerate nutrient, including carbon, recycling rates.

The study found an average doubling of ecosystem carbon sequestration when animals were incorporated into the carbon cycle model.

By combining an ecosystem compartment model, which accounts for plant, animal, and soil microbial components, with a conventional carbon modeling approach, the study revealed substantial increases in primary productivity (plant growth) and carbon sequestration.

Additionally, carbon cycle dynamics were altered when animals were integrated into the models.

These effects can be intricate and are influenced by feedback loops that are not fully understood. For instance, a model including herbivores but excluding predators exhibited the highest carbon sequestration levels.

Impact of Predators on Carbon Sequestration

While introducing predators reduced overall carbon sequestration, it still surpassed scenarios without animals.

Incorporating animals into carbon cycle models significantly reshapes the carbon cycle, necessitating further research for comprehensive understanding, according to the authors.

Future model refinements could differentiate between herbivore and predator species and incorporate ecosystem-specific animal behavior dynamics.

This research could guide future nature-based carbon sequestration initiatives, underscoring the crucial role of animals in addressing climate change.

Read the original article on: Phys Org

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