[Structure and ecological functions of soil micro-food web.]

Soil micro-food web, as a part of the detritus food webs, directly or indirectly participates in nutrient cycling by feeding on substrate and microorganisms and consequently influences the functions of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we reviewed the research progress of soil micro-food web in recent years by focusing on its composition, structure and ecological function in soil ecosystem. The important roles of soil micro-food web in driving carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformation, organic matter decomposition and plant growth were reviewed through the description of energy channel and trophic cascade effects of soil micro-food web. At last, the research perspectives were put forward. Future researches should be combined with high-throughput sequencing and stable isotope techniques for better understanding the belowground ecological process and their feedback mechanisms to plant growth through modeling analysis.