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.
Posted On: 05/09/2025
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