Trait-based approaches, which focus on the functional characteristics of organisms rather
than their taxonomic identity, offer a means to explain how plant communities and …

Global change alters the composition and functioning of ecosystems by creating novel
environmental conditions and thereby selecting for specific traits of organisms. Thus, trait …

This chapter addresses several key issues regarding the importance of a “genes to
ecosystem” approach in considering plant–soil linkages. Firstly, we examine how plant …

Ecologists are increasingly adopting trait-based approaches to understand how community
change influences ecosystem processes. However, most of this research has focussed on …

By modifying the biotic and abiotic properties of the soil, plants create soil legacies that can
affect vegetation dynamics through plant–soil feedbacks (PSF). PSF are generally attributed …

Capturing the complexity of soil life for soil quality assessments is one of the most
challenging paradoxes of contemporary soil science. Soil biota perform a plethora of …

It is increasingly recognized that belowground responses to vegetation change are closely
linked to plant functional traits. However, our understanding is limited concerning the relative …

Global change is likely to alter plant community structure, with consequences for the
structure and functioning of the below‐ground community and potential feedbacks to climate …

Decline of ecosystem services has triggered numerous studies aiming at developing more
sustainable agricultural management practices. Some agricultural practices may improve …

Plants and soil biota are important ecosystem engineers interacting via plant-soil feedback
on large gradient of temporal scales from immediate interactions to long term legacy, which …