Microbiome rewilding in urban areas

A new study published in the journal Restoration Ecology compared the composition of different urban greenspace including vacant lots, lawns, parks and woodlands. The team of researchers led by the University of Adelaide found that revegetation of urban greenspace improved soil microbiota diversity resulting in an improved natural biodiverse state.
Exposure to biodiverse natural environments is essential to human health. The purpose of the study was to find out if it is possible to restore and improve the microbiome of urban greenspace. After revegetation in neglected microbiota depleted areas including vacant lots the researchers found that the microbiome of the soil returned to the diverse levels found in woodland.

A previous study from the University of Adelaide (see rawpt.com ‘Biodiverse natural environments rich in good bacteria’) found that environments identified as those with low levels of biodiverse bacteria contained more ‘opportunistic’ disease causing bacteria including Legionella and Clostridium.