Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Soil Microbial Ecology01:29

Soil Microbial Ecology

Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
The Soil Ecosystem02:23

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry01:27

Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry

Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
Optimal Foraging00:48

Optimal Foraging

How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Synthetic rhizosphere bacterial communities induce systemic resistance to barley powdery mildew without major shifts in the native bacterial community.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026
Same author

Biodiversity effects under climate extremes intensify with aridity in grasslands but not forests.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Long-term ecosystem development and retrogression drive microbial specialization for complex organic matter degradation.

ISME communications·2026
Same author

Height does not impair the hydraulic system of the tallest tropical Dipterocarp trees.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Water Released From Vessel Embolism May Temporarily Halt Further Embolism in Tropical Dipterocarp Trees.

Plant, cell & environment·2026
Same author

Ecological multifunctionality of watersheds increases with tree species richness.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Tree community resource economics control soil food web multifunctionality.

Ludovic Henneron1,2, David A Wardle3, Matty P Berg4,5

  • 1Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden. ludovic.henneron1@univ-rouen.fr.

Nature
|May 6, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Plant traits, specifically resource economics, significantly influence soil food web multifunctionality in European forests. Resource-acquisitive trees enhance soil functions, while tree mixtures can negatively impact them.

More Related Videos

Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity
08:16

Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity

Published on: March 13, 2014

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
10:20

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

Published on: March 12, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity
08:16

Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity

Published on: March 13, 2014

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
10:20

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

Published on: March 12, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Forest Science
  • Soil Science

Background:

  • Plants are crucial for terrestrial ecosystem functioning, influencing microclimates and primary production that fuels food webs.
  • The impact of plant community properties on ecosystem functioning via food web energy fluxes, particularly in soil food webs, is understudied.
  • Soil food webs channel a significant portion of plant-derived energy, making their functioning critical for ecosystem health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how plant community properties, specifically the resource economics of dominant tree species, affect soil food web multifunctionality.
  • To understand the mechanisms driving these effects, including litter quality and microclimate.
  • To compare the influence of tree species composition on soil food webs with biogeographic factors and assess diversity effects.

Main Methods:

  • Applied a food web energetics approach to analyze soil food web functioning in European forests.
  • Compared soil food web multifunctionality in tree communities dominated by resource-acquisitive versus resource-conservative species.
  • Assessed the effects of tree species mixtures versus single-species stands on soil food web functioning and microclimate.

Main Results:

  • Tree communities dominated by resource-acquisitive species exhibited faster rates of soil trophic functions compared to those with resource-conservative species.
  • Higher-quality litter and warmer microclimates associated with resource-acquisitive species increased soil organism metabolic activity.
  • Tree species composition was a major driver of soil food web multifunctionality, comparable to biogeographic location; tree mixtures showed negative effects.

Conclusions:

  • Plant functional traits related to resource economics are key drivers of soil food web functioning.
  • Shifts in tree community composition, potentially driven by climate change, can significantly alter forest soil functioning.
  • Diversity effects on aboveground biomass production may contrast with those on belowground soil food web functioning.