If forests are the lungs of the planet, migratory animals that cross oceans, streams, and mountains are its heart and arteries, pumping vital nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the depths of the sea to the mountain peaks, from the Arctic to the Caribbean. For decades, science has studied the obvious dynamics that shape our physical world. However, less glamorous forces—such as decomposing corpses and deposited excrement—have long been ignored, despite their profound impact on local ecosystems and the global climate cycle. The simple truth is that defecating and urinating are daily rituals for almost all animals, the invisible ellipses of ecology that flow through all life. This book takes us on a stimulating and informative global adventure, from Icelandic volcanoes to tropical Hawaiian waters to the Great Plains of the United States, with the aim of revealing the extraordinary ways in which the biological activities of animals constantly build and rebuild our world. An essential read for a deeper understanding of these fundamental cycles, it offers unexpected opportunities to reverse the environmental damage humanity has inflicted on our planet, reminding us that in nature, even the most basic processes are essential to maintaining the delicate balance of life.
