The gophers' brief stay significantly enhanced plant growth in the harsh pumice landscape, leaving behind a thriving ecosystem development 40 years later, astonishing researchers.
Mia Maltz describes the eruption's aftermath, noting how the thick ash layer drastically altered the landscape by covering fertile soil with inhospitable conditions for decades.
Microbiologist Michael Allen emphasizes the unexpected long-term impact the brief presence of gophers had on the ecosystem, illustrating their role as ecosystem engineers.
The study reveals that even short-term intervention by gophers led to remarkable ecological changes, showcasing the powerful role such species can have on landscape recovery.
Collection
[
|
...
]