The soil’s early warning system: microbes can predict desertification before plants start to die
Microbial ecology is emerging as a vital tool for predicting desertification in African drylands before visible plant death occurs. By monitoring soil microbes, researchers can better understand ecosystem health and environmental tipping points.
Why it matters
Early detection of land degradation is essential for food security and climate adaptation in vulnerable regions facing rapid environmental change.
Microbes living in soil recycle nutrients, support plant growth and help ecosystems respond to environmental change. 2014CIAT/StephanieMalyon The soil’s early warning system: microbes can predict desertification before plants start to die Published: August 18, 2026 11:05am EDT https://theconversation.com/the-soils-early-warning-system-microbes-can-predict-desertification-before-plants-start-to-die-289000 https://theconversation.com/the-soils-early-warning-system-microbes-can-predict-desertification-before-plants-start-to-die-289000 Link copied Share article Share article
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Microbial ecology (the study of how tiny microbes interact with each other and their environment) underpins the health of every ecosystem on Earth. The microbes living in soil recycle nutrients, support plant growth and help ecosystems respond to environmental change. In this explainer, microbial ecologist Marc Van Goethem tells us why microbes are critical to human life. They can also provide an early warning if Africa’s drylands are approaching ecological tipping points, offering new ways to monitor and protect vulnerable landscapes.
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