The role of soil biodiversity in regulating multiple ecosystem functions is poorly understood,
limiting our ability to predict how soil biodiversity loss might affect human wellbeing and
ecosystem sustainability. Here, combining a global observational study with an experimental
microcosm study, we provide evidence that soil biodiversity (bacteria, fungi, protists and
invertebrates) is significantly and positively associated with multiple ecosystem functions.
These functions include nutrient cycling, decomposition, plant production, and reduced …