From obstacles to assets: Cultural, functional and ecological roles of surface rocks in agricultural landscapes

Surface rocks are a widespread natural geological feature of many agroecosystems worldwide, playing critical cultural, functional and ecological roles. While traditionally regarded as obstacles to agricultural practices and historically cleared or relocated, surface rocks contribute to soil formation, nutrient cycling, hydrology regulation and microhabitat creation. They also provide essential shelter and nesting sites for a wide range of rock-dwelling fauna, influence plant establishment through nursery effects, and support microbial communities that facilitate ecosystem processes. Surface rocks also have cultural significance, evident in Indigenous stone arrangements and artefacts, many of which remain undocumented. Modern farming practices, agricultural intensification, weed invasion, soil erosion and nutrification, altered fire regimes and secondary regrowth, pose significant threats to surface rock habitat, which may trigger further biodiversity loss and degradation of cultural heritage. This perspective piece highlights the cultural, functional and ecological importance of surface rocks and advocates for their inclusion in restoration and conservation programs in commodity production landscapes. Incorporating surface rocks into ecological restoration projects can improve biodiversity outcomes for invertebrates, reptiles and other small ground-dwelling fauna and may help buffer agricultural landscapes from climate change and ecological disturbances such as fire.