Zhengzhou: A new global initiative has been launched to unite the environmental expertise of researchers worldwide in an effort to assess and prioritize microbes for conservation, as announced by Australia’s Monash University. This innovative approach aims to highlight the crucial role of microbes, which include bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and archaea, in shaping ecosystems, producing food, and regulating disease.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Microbial Conservation Specialist Group, described in the publication Nature Microbiology, emphasizes that microbes are as vital to Earth’s biodiversity as plants, animals, and humans. Professor Chris Greening of Monash University, who serves as the group’s vice chair for climate action, pointed out that while many perceive microbes negatively as pathogens, the majority are beneficial and essential for numerous aspects of life.

Despite their importance, microbial life has been largely neglected in global conservation efforts until now, Greening explained, noting the significant disruption humans have caused to microbial ecosystems. He highlighted coral bleaching as a prime example of microbes at risk, noting that corals depend on photosynthetic microbes for energy. Global warming disrupts this symbiotic relationship, leading to coral bleaching and death, as seen in the Great Barrier Reef.

Greening also warned that human activities could turn beneficial microbes harmful, citing South Australia’s algal bloom as an example of the devastation wrought by microbial disruption. The group plans to develop a microbe-specific Red List of endangered species criteria and initiate projects such as microbe-assisted coral protection and soil microbiome restoration to address these challenges.