Cattles are said to be capable of releasing a huge amount of methane into the atmosphere by way of their natural digestive system which largely contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gases that eventually trigger global warming. Though much of the methane is released through flatulence and burping, a percentage of this methane comes from cow pats which, according to a latest study, may be partially neutralized by beetles that are found thriving in these dung piles.
Atte Penttila, lead author of the study from the University of Helsinki, wrote that cow pats are the primary source of food for a huge number of organisms. In fact, there could be as many species of dung-dependent beetles as there are species of birds on Earth.
Researchers also explained that understanding how these beetles help in reducing methane emissions connected to cattle production is greatly relevant when determining the total climatic effects of beef farming and dairy.
Much of the impact exerted by beetles occurs when they simply do some dung digging. Generally speaking, methane is born during anaerobic conditions. The tunneling activities of the beetles seem to expose the cow pats. This creates a major impact on how carbon is released from the pats and then goes straight into the atmosphere.
Tomas Roslin, head of the research committee, explains that in addition to the amount of carbon that is released, it is also important to consider the type of form it is released in. If such carbon is initially taken up by plants which use it as carbon dioxide, then emitted in an unchanged form by the cows that eat the plants, the effect of plants going through the cattle will be minimal in terms of global warming. However, there is a good reason to worry if the same carbon is changed from carbon dioxide into methane since it will have a bigger impact on the climate.
Researcher Eleanor Slade added that after examining dung beetles in Oxford and Helsinki, there isn’t a lot of good news to announce so far. As the current worldwide meat consumption surges, there is the reality that the number of dung beetle species had declined dramatically which eventually lead to an increase in the overall emissions that come from cattle herding.
The study was initially reported by Nature World News.
