Priorities for research in soil ecology

• Nico Eisenhauer
• Pedro M. Antunes
• Alison E. Bennett
• Klaus Birkhofer
• Andrew Bissett
• Matthew A. Bowker
• Tancredi Caruso
• Baodong Chen
• David C. Coleman
• Wietse de Boer
• Peter de Ruiter
• Thomas H. DeLuca
• Francesco Frati
• Bryan S. Griffiths
• Miranda M. Hart
• Stephan Hättenschwiler
• Jari Haimi
• Michael Heethoff
• Nobuhiro Kaneko
• Laura C. Kelly
• Hans Petter Leinaas
• Zoë Lindo
• Catriona Macdonald
• Matthias C. Rillig
• Liliane Ruess
• Stefan Scheu
• Olaf Schmidt
• Timothy R. Seastedt
• Nico M. van Straalen
• Alexei V. Tiunov
• Martin Zimmer
• Jeff R. Powell

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.

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2017.05.003

Cite this activity

@article{Eisenhauer2017,
  Title = {Priorities for research in soil ecology},
  Author = {Eisenhauer, Nico and Antunes, Pedro M. and Bennett, Alison E. and Birkhofer, Klaus and Bissett, Andrew and Bowker, Matthew A. and Caruso, Tancredi and Chen, Baodong and Coleman, David C. and Boer, Wietse de and Ruiter, Peter de and DeLuca, Thomas H. and Frati, Francesco and Griffiths, Bryan S. and Hart, Miranda M. and Hättenschwiler, Stephan and Haimi, Jari and Heethoff, Michael and Kaneko, Nobuhiro and Kelly, Laura C. and Leinaas, Hans Petter and Lindo, Zoë and Macdonald, Catriona and Rillig, Matthias C. and Ruess, Liliane and Scheu, Stefan and Schmidt, Olaf and Seastedt, Timothy R. and Straalen, Nico M. van and Tiunov, Alexei V. and Zimmer, Martin and Powell, Jeff R.},
  Editor = {},
  Year = {2017},
  Pages = {1-7},
  Volume = {63},
  Doi = {10.1016/j.pedobi.2017.05.003},
  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.},
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Eisenhauer, Nico
AU  - Antunes, Pedro M.
AU  - Bennett, Alison E.
AU  - Birkhofer, Klaus
AU  - Bissett, Andrew
AU  - Bowker, Matthew A.
AU  - Caruso, Tancredi
AU  - Chen, Baodong
AU  - Coleman, David C.
AU  - Boer, Wietse de
AU  - Ruiter, Peter de
AU  - DeLuca, Thomas H.
AU  - Frati, Francesco
AU  - Griffiths, Bryan S.
AU  - Hart, Miranda M.
AU  - Hättenschwiler, Stephan
AU  - Haimi, Jari
AU  - Heethoff, Michael
AU  - Kaneko, Nobuhiro
AU  - Kelly, Laura C.
AU  - Leinaas, Hans Petter
AU  - Lindo, Zoë
AU  - Macdonald, Catriona
AU  - Rillig, Matthias C.
AU  - Ruess, Liliane
AU  - Scheu, Stefan
AU  - Schmidt, Olaf
AU  - Seastedt, Timothy R.
AU  - Straalen, Nico M. van
AU  - Tiunov, Alexei V.
AU  - Zimmer, Martin
AU  - Powell, Jeff R.
TI  - Priorities for research in soil ecology
PY  - 2017
SP  - 1-7
VL  - 63
DO  - 10.1016/j.pedobi.2017.05.003
AB  - 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.
ER  - 

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