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Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research

Carlos A. Guerra (), Anna Heintz-Buschart, Johannes Sikorski, Antonis Chatzinotas, Nathaly Guerrero-Ramírez, Simone Cesarz, Léa Beaumelle, Matthias C. Rillig, Fernando T. Maestre, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, François Buscot, Jörg Overmann, Guillaume Patoine, Helen R. P. Phillips, Marten Winter, Tesfaye Wubet, Kirsten Küsel, Richard D. Bardgett, Erin K. Cameron, Don Cowan, Tine Grebenc, César Marín, Alberto Orgiazzi, Brajesh K. Singh, Diana H. Wall and Nico Eisenhauer
Additional contact information
Carlos A. Guerra: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Anna Heintz-Buschart: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Johannes Sikorski: Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen
Antonis Chatzinotas: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Nathaly Guerrero-Ramírez: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Simone Cesarz: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Léa Beaumelle: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Matthias C. Rillig: Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Altensteinstr. 6
Fernando T. Maestre: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán Sin Número
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán Sin Número
François Buscot: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Jörg Overmann: Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen
Guillaume Patoine: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Helen R. P. Phillips: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Marten Winter: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Tesfaye Wubet: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Kirsten Küsel: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Richard D. Bardgett: The University of Manchester
Erin K. Cameron: Saint Mary’s University
Don Cowan: University of Pretoria
Tine Grebenc: Slovenian Forestry Institute
César Marín: Universidad de O’Higgins
Alberto Orgiazzi: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Brajesh K. Singh: Western Sydney University
Diana H. Wall: Colorado State University
Nico Eisenhauer: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world’s biodiversity, contributing to many crucial ecosystem functions. It is thus essential to identify general macroecological patterns related to the distribution and functioning of soil organisms to support their conservation and consideration by governance. These macroecological analyses need to represent the diversity of environmental conditions that can be found worldwide. Here we identify and characterize existing environmental gaps in soil taxa and ecosystem functioning data across soil macroecological studies and 17,186 sampling sites across the globe. These data gaps include important spatial, environmental, taxonomic, and functional gaps, and an almost complete absence of temporally explicit data. We also identify the limitations of soil macroecological studies to explore general patterns in soil biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, with only 0.3% of all sampling sites having both information about biodiversity and function, although with different taxonomic groups and functions at each site. Based on this information, we provide clear priorities to support and expand soil macroecological research.

Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17688-2

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17688-2

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