A smell of sulfur in the early morning was the first sign. Off the coast of Iceland, without warning, the ocean began to boil. It was November 1963 and what seemed like just a marine phenomenon turned into the birth of a new volcanic island: Surtsey.
This geological event not only captured attention for its spectacularity but also for what it represented for science. For the first time, ecologists could study how an ecosystem forms from scratch, in a completely pristine environment.
What started as a inhospitable wasteland of lava and ash turned into a natural laboratory. Life began to settle little by little: insects carried by the wind, seabirds with nutrients on their wings, and seeds carried by the currents.
The arrival of these life forms marked the beginning of an invisible yet powerful network: that of animals as ecological engineers.
The hidden role of animals in the planet’s balance
Seabirds brought the first nitrogen in the form of excrement, allowing plants to take root. The vegetation attracted other organisms and thus, layer by layer, an ecosystem was woven.
Recent studies have shown that the nutrient cycle —such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon— is profoundly influenced by animal movement. From the ocean depths to the mountaintops, animals transport and redistribute life.
Whales, for example, extract nutrients from the seabed and release them on the surface through defecation, stimulating the growth of phytoplankton, which captures carbon from the atmosphere.
The story of Surtsey reminds us that protecting biodiversity is not just a symbolic act. It is ensuring that the vital processes that make life on Earth possible continue, from the newest rock to the oldest forest.
Surtsey Island is a unique place off the coast of Iceland. Photo Google Maps.
Surtsey, an island with unique characteristics
Surtsey is a volcanic island located in the Atlantic Ocean, south of Iceland. It suddenly emerged on November 14, 1963, as a result of an underwater eruption, and its formation continued until 1967. Its creation was a unique geological phenomenon, observed and documented from the beginning by scientists.
Since its appearance, Surtsey has been internationally studied for its scientific value. It offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate the biological colonization of a virgin territory, without human intervention. In its early years, lichens, mosses, birds, and seeds carried by wind or sea began to arrive.
The island is strictly protected by law and only a very limited number of researchers have access to it. This regulation has allowed maintaining its ecosystem almost intact, turning it into an ideal natural laboratory to study ecological succession and the effects of elements on young geography.
