Animals are powerful landscape engineers shaping the Earth’s surface

New research led by Zareena Khan and Professor Gemma Harvey from Queen Mary University of London shows that many species act as natural landscape engineers, moving soil and sediment through everyday activities such as burrowing, feeding and building shelters. 

From animals disturbing riverbeds to burrowing species redistributing soil, these processes can influence how landscapes evolve over time. 

The study, published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, brings together data from 64 studies covering 61 species of wild animals across freshwater and terrestrial environments. 

By analysing this global evidence, the researchers found that animal activity altered geomorphic processes by an average of 136 percent in freshwater ecosystems and 66 percent in terrestrial environments.

These changes affect the physical structure of landscapes. The research found that animals consistently increased the porosity of soils and sediments and reduced the amount of fine material present, influencing how water and sediment move through ecosystems.  

Zareena Khan, a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at Queen Mary University of London, 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, Professor of Physical Geography at Queen Mary University of London, added: 

“Our findings show that animals can act as important geomorphic agents. Recognising 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. 

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

Read the full open-access paper:

Khan, Z., Harvey, G. L., Albertson, L. K., Fritz, S. F., Rice, S. P., Johnson, M. F., et al. (2026). Signatures of wild animal life in Earth's landscapes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 131, e2025JF008351. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JF008351