Approximately a quarter of all living species are found in soils. The soil biota underpins functions which provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon and nutrient cycling, critical for primary production and human food security. The health and biological diversity of soils are also highly influential for above-ground ecosystem functioning. Modern agricultural practices often impact negatively on soil biodiversity, but the extent to which soils, and the species that support them, change as a result of alterations in management practices is poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the development of soils as a result of restoration efforts such as the creation of woodlands. Researchers at Forest Research, in collaboration with the WrEN project, have been examining soil development and changes over time under different woodlands and adjacent farmland (Ashwood et al. 2019).

When studying forests, the complexity of life belowground is often overlooked or studied separately from its aboveground component. This is the focus for PhD student Olivia Azevdeo outlined below:

1. To determine the impact of woodland creation on soil function and ecosystem services in terms of soil (microbial) biodiversity, soil stabilisation, and carbon cycling, as well as the timescales required for these processes to develop.
2. To inform UK policy on woodland expansion, including the implications for woodland creation targets, soil biodiversity, greenhouse gas mitigation, and soil conservation.

The missing links in above-belowground interactions are critical if we are to make predictions about the regulation of ecosystem processes and their response to change at regional and global scales, as well as recommendations for future woodland creation that is sustainable. One such example of these links is the mutually beneficial relationship between the ectomycorrhizal fungus and many tree species (Fig.1).​

Fig. 1: The ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita muscaria has a mutually beneficial relationship with pine and birch tree species

Fig.2: Soil aggregation under scanning electron microscope. The degree of aggregation in soils help determine their physical stability against erosion and level of soil carbon protection

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​This relationship plays a significant role in the underground ecosystem, affecting soil properties such as aggregation (Fig. 2), which helps determine the physical stability against erosion and level of soil carbon protection. By studying these above-belowground interactions, we can better understand the ecological processes that result from this connectivity and improve our ability to make informed decisions about forest management and restoration.