Microbiome sustains forest ecosystem functions across hierarchical scales

Area of Science:

• Forest ecology
• Microbial ecology
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Forests are vital ecosystems regulating climate through carbon and nitrogen cycles.
• Microbial communities mediate key processes at interfaces like root-soil and litter-soil.
• These interfaces exhibit unique characteristics influencing microbial dynamics and ecosystem functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review microbial-mediated reactive interfaces in forests.
• To explore the interrelation and dynamics of fungi and bacteria across temporal scales.
• To connect microbial dynamics to ecosystem processes under global change.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of microbial ecology in forest ecosystems.
• Analysis of fungal and bacterial interactions at various interfaces.
• Examination of temporal dynamics from seasonal changes to long-term climate change impacts.

Main Results:

• Microbial interfaces (root-soil, litter-soil, etc.) are critical for forest biogeochemical cycles.
• Fungal and bacterial dynamics vary significantly across interfaces and temporal scales.
• Ecosystem processes are intricately linked to the forest microbiome's structure and function.

Conclusions:

• In-depth knowledge of forest microbiology requires exploring the complex forest microbiome.
• Understanding forest microbiome variations is crucial for developing future microbiome-based strategies.
• This research highlights the importance of microbial interfaces in forest ecosystem resilience and function.