The Black Death stands out as the most devastating pandemic in human history. Between 1347 and 1353, approximately 50 million people in Europe, accounting for half of the population, succumbed to the plague bacterium.
Surprisingly, as the human population dwindled, plant biodiversity mirrored this decline. This peculiar correlation raises questions, especially when compared to the notion that nature thrives when given the chance to recover in the absence of humans. However, 650 years ago, the reality was different.
Contrary to expectations, following the Black Death, plant growth worsened instead of improving. It seemed as though plants themselves were undergoing a pandemic, albeit not caused by bacteria.
Research conducted by Jonathan Gordon, Dr. La, and their team at the University of York involved studying fossilized pollen grains to track changes in Europe’s plant diversity over the past two millennia. The findings unveiled a three-part narrative.
From 0 to 1300 AD, plant diversity in Europe witnessed a steady increase, peaking just before the onset of the Black Death, even thriving through the Western Roman Empire’s rise and fall and into the early Middle Ages. However, the pandemic led to a 150-year decline in plant diversity, which eventually rebounded with the resurgence of the human population. The recurring factor? Agriculture.
Prior to the Black Death, agriculture was booming, but as the pandemic waned, so did agriculture. Fields were abandoned, and grains were left unseeded.
Published in Ecology Letter, the study revealed that the most significant loss in plant diversity occurred in areas affected by land abandonment. Essentially, historical agriculture led to biodiversity enrichment.
This finding starkly contrasts with the current scenario, where agricultural intensification contributes to biodiversity loss. The practices of modern farmers, dominated by monocultures and pesticide use, harm the environment and hinder the growth of wild plants and animals.
The Middle Ages, on the other hand, showcased mixed plantings and lack of industrial chemicals, resulting in a landscape mosaic that supported diverse habitats for flora and fauna.
There are two key takeaways. Firstly, natural biodiversity recovery policies might not be as effective as presumed. Jonathan Gordon points out that Europe’s most biodiverse regions have a history of low-intensity mixed farming. Secondly, agriculture and wildlife coexistence are feasible lessons from pre-industrial farmers.
This article addresses Joyce Palmer’s query from Westminster: “Was there a Black Death in plants too?”
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