unseen majority: soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems

• Published in: Ecology letters Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 296 - 310
• Main Authors: van der Heijden, Marcel G.A, Bardgett, Richard D, van Straalen, Nico M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity and ecosystem functioning; Boreal forests; Botany; Ecology; Ecosystem; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic diversity; genetic variation; Genetics; Grasslands; Introduced plants; Limiting nutrients; microbial consortia; microbial diversity; microbiology; Mineralization; Mycorrhizae; Mycorrhizae - physiology; mycorrhizal fungi; nitrogen; Nitrogen fixation; nitrogen-fixing bacteria; Nutrients; Pathogens; phosphorus; physiology; Plant communities; Plant diversity; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant species; Plants; Plants - microbiology; Productivity; Savannahs; savannas; soil; Soil Microbiology; Soil microorganisms; Soils; species diversity; Species richness; symbionts; Symbiosis; Symbiosis - physiology; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Terrestrial environments; Terrestrial environment; Productivity; mycorrhizal fungi; Phosphorus; soil; Nitrogen; Biodiversity; Biological diversity and ecosystem functioning; Symbiont; Fungi; microbial consortia; Soils; Plant; Ecosystem; Mycorrhiza; Nitrogen fixation; Ecosystem functioning; Microorganism; microbial diversity

Microbes are the unseen majority in soil and comprise a large portion of life's genetic diversity. Despite their abundance, the impact of soil microbes on ecosystem processes is still poorly understood. Here we explore the various roles that soil microbes play in terrestrial ecosystems with spe...