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Integrating viruses into soil food web biogeochemistry
Cátia Carreira1,2, Christian Lønborg3, Basistha Acharya4
1Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark. ccd.carreira@gmail.com.
Nature Microbiology
|August 2, 2024
Summary
Soil viruses are crucial regulators of soil food webs and biogeochemical cycles. Understanding their impact is essential for soil health and function.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Microbiology
- Ecology
Background:
- The soil microbiome is vital for soil health.
- The roles of soil viruses in ecosystems are largely unknown.
- Soil environments are complex and dynamic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of viruses in soil microbial food webs.
- To describe the impact of viruses on soil biogeochemistry.
- To advocate for the inclusion of viruses in soil ecological studies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and conceptual synthesis.
- Analysis of existing data on soil microbial ecology and viral abundance.
- Theoretical modeling of viral-microbial interactions in soil.
Main Results:
- Viruses are diverse and abundant in soils.
- Viruses can significantly influence microbial community structure and function.
- Viral activity impacts key soil biogeochemical processes.
Conclusions:
- Viruses are key regulators of soil food web dynamics.
- Considering viruses is essential for understanding soil health and function.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate viral roles in soil ecosystems.
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