Improving micro-biodiversity: The invisible loss of internal ecosystems

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 17, 2022

Insight summary

Microbial life is everywhere, and it is essential for the health of humans, plants, and animals. However, micro-biodiversity is declining due to pollution, climate change, and other human-induced phenomena. This loss can severely affect ecosystems and the species that rely on them.

Improving micro-biodiversity context

Micro-biodiversity includes bacteria, viruses, and other tiny organisms; although small, they collectively play a critical role in the planet’s health. For instance, humans need robust immune systems to combat infectious diseases such as COVID-19; however, without the aid of a wide range of microbiomes, this is challenging. These micro-organisms provide nutrition and health-sustaining compounds that promote physical and mental health. In addition, microbes help to digest food, support the immune system, and protect against bacteria colonization. Aside from maintaining human health, microbes play an essential function in ecosystems by assisting plants in growing and recycling soil nutrients.

However, pollution, ocean acidification, habitat destruction, and climate change jeopardize the Earth’s microbial communities’ capacity to execute essential functions such as food production and regulation. In 2019, 33 microbiologists co-signed a “warning to humanity” statement, stating that micro-organisms support the existence of all higher life forms and must be preserved at all costs. Additionally, some scientists believe that urban living has worsened micro-biodiversity loss.

Researchers project that by 2050, a significant shift in human habitation patterns will occur, with 70 percent of the global population living in urban areas. This urbanization trend offers certain benefits, such as improved access to services and economic opportunities, but it also brings health challenges. Notably, inhabitants of these densely populated areas are experiencing a worrying rise in health issues like asthma and inflammatory bowel disease, conditions that are exacerbated by the decline in micro-biodiversity associated with city environments.

Disruptive impact

In 2022, scientists were working to understand microbes’ role in ecosystems and uncover ways to conserve and restore micro-biodiversity, and examining gut health is an excellent place to start. Research has shown that diverse microbes may protect against obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases. A 2019 study found that “loss of microbial richness” was associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.

In 2020 and 2021, studies found that people living in urban areas tend to have the most micro-biodiversity loss due to pollution and unhealthy food. In particular, germaphobia, the false notion that all germs are harmful, adds to these problems by encouraging people to excessively clean their houses and frequently prevent children from going outside and playing in the dirt. Urban dwellers can suffer from losing this crucial link since the soil is one of Earth’s most biodiverse environments.One way to improve micro-biodiversity in cities is to increase access to green and blue spaces. These spaces are home to various health-promoting microbes, which can help strengthen resilience against disease. 

A 2023 study published in the Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution journal focused on Northern China, a region known for significant biodiversity loss due to urban expansion and climate change. Using species distribution models, the study evaluated the area of occupancy for numerous plant species and their richness. The results indicated that urban expansion has a more substantial impact on changes in species-level diversity compared to climate change across various scenarios​.

Implications of improving micro-biodiversity

Wider implications of improving micro-biodiversity may include: 

• Governments encouraging urban planners to create more green and blue spaces, including community gardens, lakes, and parks.
• Bettering immune systems as human immune systems can develop stronger natural defenses against the emergence of new viruses and other diseases. Such improvements could also help reduce national healthcare costs.
• The vitamins and supplements sector continuing to benefit from people’s concerns over their immune systems.
• The increasing popularity of do-it-yourself (DIY) microbiome kits as people become more concerned about their gut health. 
• More civil action and grassroots organizations calling for their local and regional ecosystem’s restoration, including preserving forests and oceans.
• Urban development initiatives incorporating biodiversity conservation, leading to real estate projects that integrate natural habitats and wildlife corridors.
• Food and agriculture industries shifting towards practices that promote soil biodiversity, enhancing crop resilience and yield.
• Educational curricula adapting to include biodiversity and environmental stewardship, fostering a generation more conscious of ecological impacts.

Questions to consider

• If you live in the city, do you believe you have become more vulnerable to illnesses and gut problems?
• How else can governments and communities promote micro-biodiversity?