Priorities for research in soil ecology

et al. (32 authors)

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The ecological interactions that occur in and with soil are of consequence in many ecosystems on the planet. These interactions provide numerous essential ecosystem services, and the sustainable management of soils has attracted increasing scientific and public attention. Although soil ecology emerged as an independent field of research many decades ago, and we have gained important insights into the functioning of soils, there still are fundamental aspects that need to be better understood to ensure that the ecosystem services that soils provide are not lost and that soils can be used in a sustainable way. In this perspectives paper, we highlight some of the major knowledge gaps that should be prioritized in soil ecological research. These research priorities were compiled based on an online survey of 32 editors of Pedobiologia – Journal of Soil Ecology. These editors work at universities and research centers in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. The questions were categorized into four themes: (1) soil biodiversity and biogeography, (2) interactions and the functioning of ecosystems, (3) global change and soil management, and (4) new directions. The respondents identified priorities that may be achievable in the near future, as well as several that are currently achievable but remain open. While some of the identified barriers to progress were technological in nature, many respondents cited a need for substantial leadership and goodwill among members of the soil ecology research community, including the need for multi-institutional partnerships, and had substantial concerns regarding the loss of taxonomic expertise.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-7
    Number of pages7
    JournalPedobiologia
    Volume63
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Funding

    Nico Eisenhauer gratefully acknowledges funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation; Ei 862/2) and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement no 677232 ). Further support came from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, funded by the German Research Foundation (FZT 118). Jeff Powell acknowledges funding from the Australian Research Council . Bryan Griffiths acknowledges funding from The Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division . Pedro M. Antunes acknowledges funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada . Appendix A

    FundersFunder number
    Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
    Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
    Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division
    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
    European Research Council
    Australian Research Council
    Centre for Australian National Biodiversity ResearchFZT 118
    Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftEi 862/2
    Horizon 2020677232

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