Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2025
Published In
Trends In Ecology And Evolution
Abstract
Understanding the role of humans as ‘ecosystem engineers’ requires a deep-time perspective rooted in evolutionary history and the fossil record. However, no conceptual framework exists for studying the rise of ecosystem engineering in deep time, requiring us to consider effects that fall outside the scope of traditional definitions. Here, we present a new framework applicable to both modern and ancient engineering-type effects. We propose a new term – ‘Earth system engineering’ – to describe biological processes that alter the structure and function of planetary spheres, and which combines core tenets of ecosystem engineering, niche construction, and legacy effects. We illustrate this framework using the fossil record, and show how it can be applied across the tree of life, and throughout Earth history.
Keywords
ecosystem engineering, evolution, mass extinction, fossil record, Anthropocene
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
S. A. F. Darroch, M. M. Casey, A. T. Cribb, A. E. Bates, M. E. Clapham, D. L. Contreras, M. Craffey, I. A. P. Duijnstee, W. Gearty, N. J. Gotelli, M. J. Hamilton, R. F. Hayes, P. M. Hull, D. E. Ibarra, V. A. Korasidis, J. Lee, C. V. Looy, T. R. Lyson, B. Muddiman, P. D. Roopnarine, A. B. Shupinski, F. A. Smith, A. L. Stigall, C. P. Tomé, K. A. Turk, A. Villaseñor, P. J. Wagner, and Steve C. Wang.
(2025).
"‘Earth System Engineers’ And The Cumulative Impact Of Organisms In Deep Time".
Trends In Ecology And Evolution.
Volume 40,
Issue 11.
P1066-P1076.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2025.08.005
https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-math-stat/345
Comments
This work is freely available under a Creative Commons license.