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Life

Soil produces subtle noises that could reveal how healthy a forest is

A soft symphony of sounds eminates from the soil within a forest and the more thriving the ecosystem, the greater the diversity of noise

By Corryn Wetzel

9 February 2023

A mossy patch of decaying bark and soil, with the leaves of plants visible in the background, suggesting a forest environment

The small sounds of soil life may provide insights into forest health

Shutterstock/Hanastocks

Researchers are listening to the subtle symphony of soil to learn about the health of a forest. They found a chorus of high and low-frequency sounds in the soil of restored woodlands, compared with a quieter, less diverse soundscape in damaged habitats.

Ecologists have a long history of tapping into sound waves to glean clues about wildlife and ecosystems. The potential benefits of acoustic surveys are huge: scientists can gather information on species and their abundance with minimal…

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