Animals are powerful landscape engineers shaping the Earth's surface, global study finds

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Wild animals are not just inhabitants of the natural world. Many also act as natural landscape engineers, reshaping Earth's surface as they burrow, feed, and build shelters that move soil and sediment across ecosystems. From animals disturbing riverbeds to burrowing species redistributing soil, wildlife constantly modifies the physical structure of landscapes through everyday activities.

A global meta-analysis led by Dr. Zareena Khan and Professor Gemma Harvey from Queen Mary University of London analyzed data from 64 studies covering 61 species of wild animals across freshwater and terrestrial environments. The researchers found that animal activity altered geomorphic processes by an average of 136% in freshwater ecosystems and 66% in terrestrial environments.

Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, the study shows how animal activity can significantly influence the movement of soil and sediment across landscapes.

The research found that animals consistently increased the porosity of soils and sediments and reduced the amount of fine material present. These changes influence how water and sediment move through ecosystems and can affect processes such as erosion, river behavior and landscape development.

Dr. Zareena Khan said, "Animals are constantly redistributing soils and sediments through their everyday activities. When these actions accumulate across landscapes and over time, they can significantly influence how landscapes evolve."

Professor Gemma Harvey added, "Our findings show that animals can act as important geomorphic agents. Recognizing their role helps us develop a more complete understanding of how landscapes change."

The study examined species from nine different taxonomic classes, spanning environments from rivers and lakes to terrestrial ecosystems.

The findings build on Professor Harvey's wider research into animals as landscape engineers. In 2025, she led the first global synthesis identifying more than 600 animal taxa that influence Earth surface processes, highlighting the diversity of species that shape landscapes through their activities.

The new study provides quantitative evidence of how strongly animal activity can modify geomorphic processes across ecosystems.

The researchers say many species remain understudied, meaning the overall influence of wildlife on landscape change may be greater than current data suggests.

Understanding the role animals play in shaping landscapes could help scientists better predict how ecosystems respond to environmental change and biodiversity loss.

More information

Z. Khan et al, Signatures of Wild Animal Life in Earth's Landscapes, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025jf008351

Key concepts

bioturbationsoil sciencessedimentology

Provided by Queen Mary, University of London