A study published in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07083-y) reveals that tropical rainforests channel most energy to belowground animal food webs, while plantations, including oil palm and rubber agroforests, show different energetic patterns. In rainforests, over 90% of animal energy flux is in soil and canopy arthropods, whereas in plantations, over 50% is in earthworms. Land-use change leads to reduced energy flux in aboveground food webs and shifts energy channels from fungal to bacterial, with increased consumption of soil organic matter. This aligns with soil carbon stock depletion. The study quantifies energy fluxes in tropical rainforests and plantations in Sumatra, showing that belowground energy flux is significantly higher than aboveground. In plantations, earthworms dominate energy flux, while in rainforests, arthropods and birds are more significant. The study highlights the shift in trophic functions and energy distribution across aboveground and belowground compartments due to land-use changes. It also shows that belowground food webs in plantations rely on different resources, leading to faster energy channelling and a shift in carbon balance. The findings suggest that restoration efforts should focus on improving belowground habitat structure and reducing herbicide use to partially restore soil biodiversity and energy balance. The study underscores the importance of considering energetic and functional restructuring in food webs when managing tropical ecosystems.A study published in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07083-y) reveals that tropical rainforests channel most energy to belowground animal food webs, while plantations, including oil palm and rubber agroforests, show different energetic patterns. In rainforests, over 90% of animal energy flux is in soil and canopy arthropods, whereas in plantations, over 50% is in earthworms. Land-use change leads to reduced energy flux in aboveground food webs and shifts energy channels from fungal to bacterial, with increased consumption of soil organic matter. This aligns with soil carbon stock depletion. The study quantifies energy fluxes in tropical rainforests and plantations in Sumatra, showing that belowground energy flux is significantly higher than aboveground. In plantations, earthworms dominate energy flux, while in rainforests, arthropods and birds are more significant. The study highlights the shift in trophic functions and energy distribution across aboveground and belowground compartments due to land-use changes. It also shows that belowground food webs in plantations rely on different resources, leading to faster energy channelling and a shift in carbon balance. The findings suggest that restoration efforts should focus on improving belowground habitat structure and reducing herbicide use to partially restore soil biodiversity and energy balance. The study underscores the importance of considering energetic and functional restructuring in food webs when managing tropical ecosystems.