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:
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:
- 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.
- To inform UK policy on woodland expansion, including the implications for woodland creation targets, soil biodiversity, greenhouse gas mitigation, and soil conservation.
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.
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.