Biogeology: Life's Interaction with Planetary Processes

Biogeology is the study of how living organisms interact with geological processes and influence the Earth's structure, composition, and evolution. At its core, this interdisciplinary science bridges biology and geology to explore how life not only adapts to the planet’s environment but also actively shapes it. From the earliest microbial life forms to the complex biosphere we observe today, organisms have left a profound and lasting mark on the Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and beyond.

The roots of biogeology trace back to early observations of fossils and their geological contexts, but it was only in the latter part of the twentieth century that scientists began to systematically investigate how biological processes drive and respond to geologic phenomena. What distinguishes biogeology from related fields like geobiology is its emphasis on long-term, system-level interactions. Rather than focusing solely on life's history or evolution, biogeology aims to understand how organisms, especially microbial communities, influence soil formation, mineral deposits, atmospheric composition, and global cycles of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur.

One of the foundational concepts in biogeology is the recognition that life and the planet are co-evolving systems. For example, the rise of photosynthetic organisms dramatically altered Earth's early atmosphere by introducing oxygen, a development that not only enabled new life forms but also transformed the planet's geochemistry. Similarly, the formation of soil through microbial and plant activity has reshaped landscapes and influenced erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient availability.