Acoustic observation methods are already being applied to a wide variety of ecosystems and their soundscapes. Now, for the first time, researchers have studied the dynamics of the biodiversity of the hidden life beneath our feet, the soil fauna.
In the soundscape of the soil from the Pfynwald, the researchers found distinct diurnal and seasonal patterns of the sounds produced by the animals in the soil. The acoustically measurable fluctuations in the diversity and activity of the soil animals are also closely related to the soil microclimate: for example, when the soil warms up in the morning, the activity and diversity of the local fauna increases - while in winter it is quiet as the animals retreat to deeper layers or go into hibernation.
To the article "Das Konzert unter unseren Füssen" by ZHdK lecturer and researcher Marcus Maeder