We Are Ecosystem Engineers

A shallow dive into the idea that humanities relationship with the environment is more natural than often betrayed even in our destruction.

Mar 19, 2025

What are humans exactly?

This has been a question that humans have been asking since the beginning of society. Over the millennia, we have developed and discovered various ideas, opinions, and facts about our existence and impact on the world. Experts and everyday people have tried to narrow human behavior to a singularity of needs, behavior, and desire. Yet, as a species, we remain unsuccessful. There is no agreed-upon notion of human nature, and maybe there shouldn’t be [1].

As a species we have a sordid history and continued tendency to conflate natural with good[20]. Far too often in the past and now, we use human nature as an excuse for certain behaviors and actions. Far too often we use it to justify bigotry.

There is so much more to be discussed about how the concept of “human nature” and essentialism has impacted history and us today. However, that’s another topic of discussion. These conversations can be important, so long as they are nuanced and considerate. However, for this article, I will focus on one view of human nature and how it relates to our relationship to our surrounding environment. Despite my internal thoughts, I’ve decided to throw my ideas into the proverbial ring.

When it comes to how humans interact with the Natural World you might see a variety of opinions. You probably have opinions of your own about this.

Are you like environmental doomerist corners of the internet and media of the 90s and early 2000s that believed humans were the virus? [5][8]

Perhaps you align with Abrahamic theological philosophies tied to human nature? Seeing us as stewards of the environment?

Maybe you’re the ancient aliens type? Believing that we are so out of place and out of step with the natural world that we can’t be from earth?

Maybe you hold a more Indigenous view? That humans are connected to the earth?

Maybe you hold a blend of some, all, or none of these views.

How humanity has seen itself and its place in the universe and by contrast its place in the natural world has shifted across time, place, and culture. Our impact on the world is obvious and unavoidable. As a species, we have ushered the peaceful time on earth, environmentally and climate-wise, into the unstable world we have today. We can see destruction so horrible it didn’t seem possible even 100 years ago. Depleted layers in our atmosphere, rivers on fire, acid rain, man-made earthquakes, and the list goes on. At the same time there are incredible actions of preservation completed by small groups of humans.

The Majuli Forest planted by Jadav Payeng[2],

The Restoration work of Hugh Wilson,

The Impactful words of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson which heralded change in environmental legislation around the world[4],

And so much more.

So what are we? Are we Stewards? Viruses? Conquerors? Aliens?

As a biologist, I would like to propose an alternative view of humanity. No longer the virus. No longer the top of the food chain. Instead as ecosystem engineers.

What is an Ecosystem-Engineer?

An ecosystem engineer is an organism that either directly or indirectly causes ecosystem-wide changes in its environment and impacts other species' access to resources. [7]

Ecosystem-Engineers come in two types:

“[...] organisms that cause a biologically mediated habitat modification.[...] autogenic engineers, i.e. organisms that change the environment by their own physical structures, and allogenic engineers, i.e. organisms that transform living and non-living material from one physical state to another one.” [3]

Essentially, autogenic engineers impact the environment by changes in their own bodies. Think about corals, trees, and seagrass. Ecosystems are built on or around autogenic engineers. Allogenic engineers physically change an aspect of their environment. Think Beavers, Elephants, and Termites. Allogenic engineers alter ecosystems either by changing living or non-living resources [7][15].

Organisms can also be both allogenic and autogenic engineers. For example, Mussels both impact water quality and clarity by filtering as allogenic engineers. As autogenic engineers, the clusters they form with their bodies provide habitat for other organisms.

There are also behavioral commonalities between allogenic ecosystem engineers including humans:

Allogenic engineers create habitats and/or influence the availability of resources for other species

When not looking at when humans are being intentional, it may be hard to see how people do this naturally. Especially in modern times where we are acutely aware of the biodiversity crisis and its triggers. At the same time we are actually quite familiar with the species we assist. Pests. Even in the least biodiverse and urban areas, humans still provide resources and support organisms. Like rats, cockroaches, or pigeons. Our urban centers also help other less antagonistic species like Canada geese and peregrine falcons, both of which faced extinction at one point or another[21]. We also do this intentionally, with planned agriculture, which is a phenomenon that isn’t exclusive to humans.

Examples in Nature:

As allogenic engineers Zebra Mussels filter and clarify water. This frees up light availability for algal growth which can quickly get out of hand and choke the life out of bodies of water.[22]
Lemon Ants in the Amazon Rainforest are responsible for a phenomenon called “Devil’s Gardens.” These are spots in the Amazon that have only one plant growing: Duroia hirsuta. Lemon Ants living in their host plant kill every other plant that may compete with their host to ensure an abundance of nesting sites. [10]

Allogenic engineers are tool users, either utilizing external tools and/or specialized physiologies to modify the environment.

To change the environment you need tools, something humans are infamous for. Not only do we use external tools but as a species with fingers, thumbs, and specialized arms we are able to move through the world in a way other species can’t. Our ability to craft our own tools, problem-solve, and interestingly, our ability to throw things allowed us as a species to make major impacts on our environments and ensured our success as a species. [12] One of our greatest tools that has shaped environments has been Fire.

Examples in Nature:

In Australia, many species of raptor take part in fire-spreading behaviors to capture prey. Often this behavior occurs in grasslands. Constant burning can either contribute to ecological degradation or maintenance depending on circumstances including, weather, fire history, and ecological redundancy. [11][13]
With tusks and hooves, Wild Boar are notable engineers with destructive rooting behavior. This affects the diversity and density of plants in the places they root. There is also evidence this behavior may also disturb the microbiomes and nutrient availability of soils. This behavior may also contribute to the increased growth and presence of invasive plants in different areas. [14][18]

Allogenic engineers have legacies.

It's not hard to see that humans make lasting impacts on our environments, especially nowadays with a multitude of looming environmental crises tied to our actions. We can see the legacies we leave in our destruction. But, our restoration projects also have lasting impacts. The wilds of the Americas have notably been shaped by Indigenous fire management. Legacies can last a moment or generations and are not unique to humans.

Salmon, when nesting, dig shallows to incubate their eggs safely. This behavior decreases fine sediment that would clog water movement and smother incubating eggs. Generations of this behavior may lead to the success of the next generation of Salmon’s survival.[23]
The most famous of ecosystem-engineers, the beavers are well known for their dam-building skills. These dams provide habitats, redirect water, and offer drought resistance. However even after Beavers are gone the landscape impacts can be felt even 30 years after a dam is abandoned. [15]

Allogenic engineers are destructive.

To change an environment you have to cause a bit of destruction. Humans are notoriously very good at this. We tend to destroy a good amount of what we touch, environmentally. Destruction does not an ailment to an ecosystem make. Often fires, cutting down trees, and even localized extinction events may be important to the health of an ecosystem.

Urchins are voracious consumers of algae. In Kelp forests, this can be devastating and ecosystem-destroying. But on reefs, their appetite actually keeps Corals healthy and clear, preventing algal overgrowth. [9][16]

Bison have a variety of grazing behaviors that differ them from domestic cattle. One important behaviors is their tendency to scrape the bark off and thus killing of trees. This expands and maintains grassland territories, which are constantly at risk of encroachment by forests. [17]

I’m not the first to make the comparison or statement that Humans are Ecosystem Engineers. Among ecological papers and biological circles, it's actually a common claim. [6][19]

As engineers, humans have the potential for so much harm and so much good when it comes to environmental modification. Neither is natural for humans and neither is unnatural at the same time. As a species, we are in a unique position compared to other engineers. We can recognize the overarching results of our impacts. So, when we look at human behavior in the past and now rather than submitting to the idea of our inherent disconnect and incompatibility with nature, let's reframe it into something that would help people and the planet.

Have we as a species harmed the planet?

Yes.

Do we continue to do so?

Yes.

But there are many flaws in thinking this is inherently what we do. Including the issue of judging humans relationships to the environment on recent behavior under industry, colonial, and capitalist systems. Human behavior has, and continues to, change with environment, culture, and knowledge. There is no reason to believe we cannot utilize our engineering prowess for good.

So let's embrace our work as ecosystem engineers!

Use our tools and physiologies. Craft and create. With our hands, we can build structures, move obstacles, and plant saplings. With our arms we can throw seed balls, gather trash, and carry species that are harmed by ecological damage. With our minds we can strategize and manage our impacts.

We can create habitats and open resources for other species. With our reserves, national parks, and preservation efforts. We seek out rare, endangered, and extinct species to try and reinstate them to their former glories. We clear the way with our footsteps and carve out homes for the vulnerable. We can clear invasive species, replant natives, and build the bases for nests.

We can use our destructive tendencies. A trait that has been used to maintain grasslands, clear underbrush, birth verbal pools, and reverse past damage done by other humans. Fire can clear the way for struggling species to pop up again. Cutting trees can shift an environment. Closing dams can help rivers run again.

Finally, we can imagine and see the impacts beyond our lifetimes. We have the capacity to plant a tree and recognize its importance even if the tree may not reach its full potential for 50 to 100 years. We pass down ecological knowledge and stewardship to the next generation. We can write down our experiments with engineering and reflect on what failed and what will succeed.

You are an ecosystem engineer. Embrace that part of you. Learn more about the environment and the impacts we have, both good and bad. Also recognize that as humans we lack competition, so it's also our job to push back on our more destructive behaviors. Some of the most destructive invasive species are Engineers. Engineers can and have caused mass extinctions. We are not alone. So it's up to us to guide our behaviors towards improving the environment for us and all other extant species, now and upcoming.

References:

Sources:

Alexander, Gemma. 2020. Five Environmental Campaigns for the 50th Earth Day. – Earth911. https://earth911.com/living-well-being/five-environmental-campaigns-for-the-50th-earth-day/

Alberston, Lindsey K, Skylar, Leonard S, Tumolo, Benjamin B, et al. 2022. The ghosts of ecosystem engineers: Legacy effects of biogenic modifications. – Functional Ecology / Volume 38, Issue 1 / p. 52-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14222

Byers, James E, Cuddington, Kim, Jones, Clive G, Talley, Theresa S, et al. 2006. Using ecosystem engineers to restore ecological systems. – Volume 21, Issue 9 / p493-500 / September 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2006.06.002

Crooks, J. A. 2002. Characterizing ecosystem-level consequences of biological invasions: the role of ecosystem engineers (Mini - Review). – Oikos 97: 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.970201.x

Hastings, Alan, Byers, James E, Crooks, Jeffrey A, Cuddington, Kim, et al. 2007. Ecosystem engineering in space and time. – Ecology Letters / Volume 10, Issue 2 / p. 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00997.x

Jones, Clive G, Lawton, John H, Shachack, Moshe. 1997. Positive and negative effects of Organisms as physical ecosystem engineers. – Ecology, 78(7): 1946–1957. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1997)078[1946:PANEOO]2.0.CO;2

Jones, C. G., Lawton, J. H., & Shachak, M. (1994). Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers. Ecosystem Management, 130–147. doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4018-1_14

Justin P. Wright, Clive G. Jones, The Concept of Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers Ten Years On: Progress, Limitations, and Challenges. – BioScience, Volume 56, Issue 3, March 2006, Pages 203–209, https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2006)056[0203:TCOOAE]2.0.CO;2

Larson, Abe. 2015. Humans Aren’t the Only Ecosystem Engineers in Wyoming. – Sweetwater Now. https://www.sweetwaternow.com/humans-arent-ecosystem-engineers-wyoming/

Smith, Bruce D. 2007. The Ultimate Ecosystem Engineers. – Vol 315, Issue 5820 / pp. 1797-1798. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1137740

Moore, Jonathan W. 2006. Animal Ecosystem Engineers in Streams. – BioScience, 56(3) : 237-246.

https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1997)078[1946:PANEOO]2.0.CO;2

We are Ecosystem Engineers

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