BACKGROUND Soil is the largest repository of organic matter on land, storing~ 1500 Gt
carbon, which is at least as much as the vegetation (~ 560 Gt) and atmosphere (~ 750 Gt) …

Evidence is mounting that the immense diversity of microorganisms and animals that live
belowground contributes significantly to shaping aboveground biodiversity and the …

Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental
samples (such as soil, water, feces, or air) without the prior isolation of any target organism …

Soil organisms are a crucial part of the terrestrial biosphere. Despite their importance for
ecosystem functioning, few quantitative, spatially explicit models of the active belowground …

Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world's biodiversity, contributing to many crucial
ecosystem functions. It is thus essential to identify general macroecological patterns related …

Soil is a key component of Earth's critical zone. It provides essential services for agricultural
production, plant growth, animal habitation, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and …

Soil biodiversity is increasingly recognized as providing benefits to human health because it
can suppress disease-causing soil organisms and provide clean air, water and food. Poor …

The number of species on Earth is one of the most fundamental numbers in science, but one
that remains highly uncertain. Clearly, more species exist than the present number of …

There are numerous ways in which plants can influence the composition of soil
communities. However, it remains unclear whether information on plant community …

Experiments suggest that biodiversity enhances the ability of ecosystems to maintain
multiple functions, such as carbon storage, productivity, and the buildup of nutrient pools …