Urban Forest Biodiversity – From Aboveground to Belowground, from Genes to Landscapes

Against the backdrop of accelerating global urbanization, urban forests—as a core element of green infrastructure—are increasingly recognized for their profound biodiversity value. Urban forests represent far more than simple tree assemblages; they function as complex biotic communities supporting a diverse spectrum of life, spanning soil microbiomes, canopy-dwelling arthropods, and vertebrates. Collectively, vegetation diversity, habitat heterogeneity, and belowground microbial diversity lay the fundamental groundwork for the resilience of urban ecosystems. Nevertheless, urban environments pose unprecedented threats to the conservation of urban forest biodiversity, such as habitat fragmentation, biological invasions, environmental pollution, and extreme climatic events. At present, scientific understanding remains fragmented regarding three key aspects: the coupling relationships between aboveground and belowground biodiversity in urban forests, the regulatory role of functional diversity in mediating ecosystem services, and effective strategies for multi-taxa biodiversity conservation within constrained urban spaces.

This Research Topic seeks to curate cutting-edge research on urban forest biodiversity, advocating a conceptual shift from single-taxon-focused investigations (e.g., tree-centered studies) to integrated, multi-taxon and multi-scale research spanning genetic, species, habitat, and landscape levels. We particularly invite submissions that clarify the interactive relationships among vegetation diversity, habitat heterogeneity, and belowground microbial diversity, as well as original research examining biodiversity responses to urbanization gradients and their subsequent cascading effects on human well-being. Through this collection, we aim to synthesize robust scientific evidence and develop actionable management strategies to support the development of biodiverse, healthy, and sustainable urban forests.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Species composition, distribution patterns, and dynamic succession of urban forest vegetation diversity

• Urban forest habitat diversity assessment, habitat restoration, and wildlife conservation

• Community structure, ecological functions, and driving mechanisms of urban forest soil/plant-associated microorganisms

• Coupling relationships and interactive mechanisms between multi-trophic biodiversity in urban forest ecosystems

• Impacts of urbanization, climate change, and human activities on urban forest biodiversity

• Aboveground-belowground biodiversity linkages: Coupling mechanisms between plant diversity and soil biotic diversity, and their impacts on ecosystem functions.

• Genetic diversity in urban forests: Genetic variation, gene flow, and adaptive potential of native tree species under urban conditions.

• Biodiversity and ecosystem services: The role of urban forest biodiversity in carbon sequestration, heat island mitigation, stormwater retention, and air purification.

• Human disturbances and biodiversity conservation: Effects of urbanization intensity, recreational activities, and management practices (e.g., pruning, litter removal) on multi-taxa biodiversity.

• Biodiversity-oriented planning and management of urban forests: Near-natural forest design, application of native species, and habitat restoration techniques that promote multi-habitat and multi-species coexistence.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... 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:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Urban forest biodiversity, Aboveground-belowground coupling, Functional diversity, Ecosystem services, Multi-taxa biodiversity

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.