The Synergistic Response of Ecosystem Vegetation and Soil Microorganisms under the Background of Global Change

Dear Colleagues,

Due to global climate change and human activities, ecosystems have degraded or are undergoing degradation. The degradation of ecosystems leads to the extinction of species and a decline in biodiversity across various ecosystems.  Consequently, research on the structure, function and ecological degradation of ecosystems has attracted widespread attention. Soil microorganisms, one of the most critical components of ecosystems, regulate biogeochemical cycles and vegetation succession processes. Their composition and diversity are sensitive biological indicators of ecosystem degradation. Ecosystem degradation causes drastic changes in vegetation composition and growth, as well as the physical and chemical properties of soil and soil aggregates. The composition and function of soil microorganisms are jointly determined by the aboveground vegetation and underground soil nutrient characteristics. Therefore, understanding the synergistic changes in the aboveground plants and soil microorganisms under the influence of global climate change and human activities is of significant importance.

This research theme aims to provide a forum for researchers to share the latest discoveries on the mechanisms of compositional and functional changes in aboveground plants and underground soil microorganisms during the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests (economic forest). High-quality original research and review articles in this field are encouraged.

Areas of research interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Changes in the composition and diversity of soil microorganisms in ecosystems with varying vegetation compositions undergoing degradation;
2. Alterations in the function and structure of soil microorganisms during the invasion of plants in degraded ecosystems;
3. Variations in soil microbial composition and diversity following ecosystem vegetation succession and their impacts on biogeochemical cycles;
4. The effects of changes in forest types on the structure and function of soil microorganisms;
5. The impacts of global climate change and human activities on the changes in forests (economic forest) and soil microorganisms.

Dr. Nan Xu
Dr. Wenxu Zhu
Guest Editors

Dr. Yining Wu
Guest Editor Assistant

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• plant photosynthesis
• climate change
• microbial community
• litter decomposition
• functional diversity
• carbon cycle