A significant collective of scientists is embarking on a mission to rescue an unlikely group of species from the brink of extinction: microbes – the tiny, often overlooked organisms that underpin all life.
Researchers emphasize that these microscopic organisms are crucial for the health and survival of countless other species, even entire ecosystems. As microbiologist Jack Gilbert from the University of California, San Diego, puts it, “We need them to help conserve the pandas, the rainforests, the whales, the oceans, and everything else.”
While our planet faces a severe extinction crisis, most documented losses by conservationists have focused on animals and plants. For instance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) recently added the migratory slender-billed curlew shorebird and the ebonylike tree *Diospyros angulata* to its list of threatened species.
Human activities – such as overhunting, habitat destruction, deforestation, and global warming – are accelerating these extinctions. However, this grim fate is not always unavoidable. The I.U.C.N. also shared a success story, announcing that the green sea turtle population has made a remarkable recovery due to conservation efforts like protecting their nesting beaches. This allowed their status to be downgraded from endangered to “least concern.”
But animals and plants, however, account for only a small portion of Earth’s biological richness. Fungi, a distinct kingdom of life, are estimated to encompass millions, possibly even tens of millions, of species. Yet, I.U.C.N. began assessing fungal species only a decade ago, with just 1,300 evaluated so far. This limited assessment already reveals a dire situation: one-third of these assessed fungi face extinction.
In an even more ambitious move, I.U.C.N. researchers are now expanding their conservation efforts to include the immense diversity of bacteria and other microbes across the globe.
This initiative represents perhaps the most formidable challenge in conservation history. Microbes comprise the vast majority of Earth’s genetic diversity, with an estimated 100 billion species, most of which remain uncatalogued by microbiologists.
The task is compounded by their elusive nature: microbes are invisible to the naked eye, and even under a microscope, different species can appear identical. They inhabit nearly every corner of our planet, from high in the clouds to deep within the Earth’s crust.
Image: Colorful microbial mats, composed of thermophilic microbes, surround a bubbling hot spring in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Despite the lack of complete documentation, biologists are already observing significant threats to microbial diversity. For example, soil, which can host half of all microbial species, suffers extensive destruction when forests are cleared and grasslands are converted for agriculture, leading to a substantial loss of its microscopic inhabitants.
This new *Microbial Conservation Specialist Group* aims to identify global hotspots for microbial preservation. These range from barren Antarctic rocks to the intricate microbiomes within animals and plants. Their strategy involves collecting samples for study and storing them in secure “vaults” to safeguard against extinction.
Beyond collecting samples, the group will develop plans to protect entire ecosystems where these microbes thrive. Raquel Peixoto, a microbiologist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and co-chair of the group, emphasizes this symbiotic relationship: “The way forward is to preserve the ecosystem so you can preserve the microorganisms, and the microorganisms can in turn improve the ecosystem in a positive loop.”
Elinne Becket, a microbial ecologist from California State University, San Marcos, commends the group for forging connections with communities worldwide whose lives are intricately linked to microbial health.
Dr. Becket adds, “They have a strong short- and long-term plan to bring microbial conservation to the forefront of conservation efforts.”
Consider the coral reefs: preserving their microbes could significantly benefit coastal populations. Thriving reefs naturally buffer ocean waves, preventing floods, and act as vital nurseries for countless fish species. Often called the “rainforests of the ocean,” these reefs are home to a staggering one-third of all marine species.
Yet, the very coral animals that construct these magnificent reefs cannot survive in isolation. Their existence relies entirely on a complex coral microbiome – a community of microbial species that aid in digestion and defend against diseases.
Image: Conserving microbes in coral reefs could benefit people who live near them.
Dr. Peixoto’s research on the coral microbiome reveals a troubling trend: these vital microbial communities are suffering due to ocean pollution and rising temperatures from climate change.
“While I can’t definitively say they are going extinct,” Dr. Peixoto explains, “I can clearly and definitely say there is a decline. We’re seeing fewer beneficial microbes and a rise in pathogens.”
To counter this, Dr. Peixoto is experimenting with beneficial microbes as “probiotics” for reefs. Her initial findings are promising, indicating these microbial treatments can help restore coral health.
Beyond coral, preserving microbial communities in other environments offers further benefits. For instance, fragile microbial crusts covering deserts and arid regions actively draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Protecting larger expanses of these microbial communities means more carbon sequestration, thus helping to mitigate climate change. Dr. Gilbert highlights this: “Five hundred acres of that desert will sequester a hell of a lot more carbon than one acre will.”
Dr. Peixoto also points to agriculture, where maintaining microbial diversity could revolutionize farming. Instead of relying heavily on nitrogen-rich fertilizers, recent studies demonstrate that inoculating fields with specific soil bacteria allows crops to naturally access nitrogen from the air. This method not only promotes growth but could save farmers billions of dollars.
“Even from an economic standpoint, these are incredibly beneficial advancements,” Dr. Peixoto concludes.