Groundbreaking soil biodiversity survey at Glen Prosen reveals unprecedented findings

A groundbreaking soil survey in Glen Prosen has unearthed a staggering number of species living beneath the ground.

The data has significant implications for biodiversity restoration and will inform the rebuilding of native woodland, peatlands, and open-ground habitats at the Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) managed Glen Prosen, located within the Cairngorms National Park.

The pioneering research, carried out by The James Hutton Institute (JHI) in partnership with FLS, detected 12,253 taxa across the seven kingdoms of life, including Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Animalia, Chromista, Plantae, and Protozoa. This will provide FLS with a baseline against which future changes in soil biodiversity can be measured, as new native woodland and other habitats develop.

Soil diversity was examined in 48 sample plots distributed across the glen, contrasting open and forested habitats, natural regeneration of trees or tree planting, and areas where no change is planned. Soil biodiversity richness was highly variable and influenced by environmental factors such as acidity, elevation, and topography. Less acidic soils in valley bottoms supported greater richness of soil biodiversity.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are important for tree survival and growth, so were of particular interest in the study. These fungi were primarily found in forestry plantation areas, and in areas which were once wooded. This finding will help to identify where future tree planting may be more successful, and also where establishment of ectomycorrhizal fungal populations will be required as part of the restoration process.  

The study – led by JHI researchers Dr Andrea Britton and Dr Andy Taylor – employed cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to detect organisms and has set a new standard for future surveys.

Dr Britton said:

“The survey represents one of the first times that soil biodiversity has been explored at scale across an upland landscape in Scotland and has unveiled the hidden diversity of soil life at Glen Prosen, providing an important foundation for future restoration efforts.

“The insights gained will help us understand how changes in land use impact both above and below-ground biodiversity."

The findings underscore the importance of considering soil biodiversity in ecological restoration and highlight the need for mycorrhizal fungi to support tree growth in open areas.

FLS Environment Manager Colin Edwards said:

“This new frontier in ecology – being unlocked with innovative genetic methods – has delivered results that are remarkable in taxonomic depth and breadth and places FLS at the forefront of biodiversity monitoring in Scotland.

“Projects like this will enable FLS to collaborate with other organisations and researchers to enhance our understanding and future management of soil biodiversity on the National Forest Estate. We hope to develop future partnerships with landowners and conservation groups to support broader landscape-scale restoration efforts.”

The comprehensive survey will provide an essential baseline for future ecological restoration efforts in Glen Prosen.

Sophie Cade, Planning Forester at Forestry and Land Scotland, said:

"The Glen Prosen survey is a testament to the importance of integrating soil biodiversity into our land management plans. We will continue to work with JHI to identify how this emerging technology can inform our woodland creation and habitat restoration work at Glen Prosen to create resilient and biodiverse ecosystems, ensuring the long-term health of the landscape."

The Glen Prosen soil biodiversity baseline survey has been published open access and is available for download: Glen Prosen soil biodiversity baseline survey

Notes to editors

1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
2. Home - Forestry and Land Scotland | X.com/ForestryLS 
3. Media enquiries to media@forestryandland.gov.scot 
4. The James Hutton Institute is Scotland’s pre-eminent interdisciplinary scientific research institute at the forefront of transformative science for the sustainable management of land, crop and nature resources that support thriving rural communities in Scotland and across the globe. It has just under 500 employees, 80 PhD students, and has its main campuses at Aberdeen and Invergowrie, near Dundee. It takes its name from the eminent 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment scientist, James Hutton, innovator and polymath, who transformed our understanding of the Earth with revolutionary ideas of deep time and the endless natural cycles of the earth. www.hutton.ac.uk