Soil microbial ecology and soil ecosystem functions for addressing climate change and maintaining ecological sustainability

Global climate change and human activities significantly impact the processes and functions of terrestrial ecosystems. Soil microbial and biota play a key role in the soil ecosystem functions of terrestrial ecosystems and are the core and key to maintaining soil health. Accurate estimation of soil microbial activity, diversity, and biota, and their relationship with soil ecosystem functions, is of great significance for addressing climate change and maintaining ecological sustainability.

This Research Topic aims to investigate the changes in soil microbial structure, diversity, biological activity, soil biota, temperature sensitivity, and soil ecosystem functions to global climate change, land use change, and human activities. We also aim to reveal the underlying mechanisms driving these changes in microbial dynamics and their consequent effects on critical ecosystem processes, including soil nutrient cycling, plant productivity, and litter decomposition patterns. We also expect to clarify the impact of soil biota and microbial communities on soil ecosystem functions.

Topics of interest for this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:
1. Novel insights into the soil enzyme activity (specific enzyme activity, absolute enzyme activity, etc.).
2. Investigate the interactions between microorganisms and their biotic and abiotic environments.
3. Explore the role of soil microbial communities and soil biota in soil ecosystem functions (biogeochemical cycling, water conservation, etc.).
4. Response of soil microbial communities and soil biota to climate change (warming, drought, and nitrogen addition, etc.).
5. Response of soil microbial communities and soil biota to human activities (land use change, forest management, forest thinning, vegetation restoration, grazing, fertilization, plant invasion, etc.).

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Soil microbial ecology, soil biota, soil enzyme activity, soil biogeochemical cycling, global climate change, land use change, vegetation restoration

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.