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The abundant and interacting communities of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses found within soils are collectively referred to as the soil microbiome. They form one of the most diverse and dynamic ecosystems on the planet. The soil microbiome plays key environmental and ecological roles, from nutrient cycling, protection of plants against biotic (e.g., pathogens) and abiotic (e.g., extreme heat) stressors, maintaining soil physical structure, to carbon storage and bioremediation. However, human activities have led to substantial land degradation and hindered the soil microbiome’s capacity to provide essential ecosystem services. Each location will have a unique soil microbiome and it is important to understand how this influences, and how it is influenced by, the local and global ecosystem.
This Collection welcomes submissions from all fields of microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, ecology, and sustainability, as well as interdisciplinary research that provides insights into soil microbiome and its ecosystem services.