Subterranean environments contribute to three‐quarters of classified ecosystem services
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Beneath the Earth's surface lies a network of interconnected caves, voids, and systems of fissures forming in rocks of sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic origin. Although largely inaccessible to humans, this hidden realm supports and regulates services critical to ecological health and human well-being. Subterranean ecosystems are integral to major biogeochemical cycles, sustain diverse surface habitats, and serve as the primary source of irrigation and drinking water. They also offer non-material benefits, including scientific discovery, education, and cultural practices. Yet, these contributions often go unrecognised, partly due to the lack of a unified synthesis of ecosystem services across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine subterranean compartments. This gap limits effective communication of their value to scientists, practitioners, and the public. Through a systematic expert-based review, we show that subterranean ecosystems contribute to up to 75% of classified ecosystem services. Notably, many of these contributions are described only qualitatively, lacking numerical or economic quantification. Next, we list examples of the main ecosystem services provided by subterranean systems to offer a global overview of their multifaceted value and vulnerability to environmental change. We believe this synthesis provides researchers and practitioners with concrete examples to communicate more effectively the importance of subterranean ecosystems to diverse audiences.
DOI: 10.1002/brv.70137
Authors: Stefano Mammola, David Brankovits, Tiziana Di Lorenzo, Isabel R. Amorim, Raluca Ioana Bancila, Adrià Bellvert, Enrico Bernard, Anna Blomberg, Paulo A.V. Borges, Martina Cappelletti, Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira, Rosalina Gabriel, Diana M. P. Galassi, Laura Garzoli, Vasilis Gerovasileiou, Grant C. Hose, Kathryn L. Korbel, Simone Martino, Ana Z Miller, Nataša Mori, Veronica Nanni, Giuseppe Nicolosi, Mattia Saccò, Troy S. Sakihara, Marconi Souza Silva, Anne E. Tamalavage, Maja Zagmajster, Efraín Chávez, Christian Griebler, Pedro Cardoso, Alejandro Martínez
Institutions: University of Helsinki, Water Research Institute, Finnish Museum of Natural History, National Research Council, University of Lisbon, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri, Universidade dos Açores, International Union for Conservation of Nature (United Kingdom), Universidade Federal de Lavras, University of Bologna, University of L'Aquila, Ionian University, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Macquarie University, James Hutton Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, University of Évora, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, National Institute of Biology, University of Catania, University of Parma, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Curtin University, Biologie des Organismes et Écosystèmes Aquatiques, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, University of Ljubljana, Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University of Vienna
Language: English
Subfield: Paleontology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,390
Funders: Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Biodiversa+, European Commission, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Academy of Finland, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
OpenAlex ID: W7128499172