Towards an integrative understanding of soil biodiversity. (15th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thakur, Madhav P.; Phillips, Helen R. P.; Brose, Ulrich; De Vries, Franciska T.; Lavelle, Patrick; Loreau, Michel; Mathieu, Jerome; Mulder, Christian; Van der Putten, Wim H.; Rillig, Matthias C.; Wardle, David A.; Bach, Elizabeth M.; Bartz, Marie L. C.; Bennett, Joanne M.; Briones, Maria J. I.; Brown, George; Decaëns, Thibaud; Eisenhauer, Nico; Ferlian, Olga; Guerra, Carlos António; König‐Ries, Birgitta; Orgiazzi, Alberto; Ramirez, Kelly S.; Russell, David J.; Rutgers, Michiel; Wall, Diana H.; Cameron, Erin K.
• Is Part Of: Biological reviews. Volume 95:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 350
• Page End: 364
• Publication Date: 2019-11-15
• Subjects: biodiversity theory -- alpha diversity -- beta diversity -- spatial scale -- species–energy relationship -- theory of island biogeography -- metacommunity theory -- niche theory -- neutral theory; Biology -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1111/brv.12567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-7931

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Soil is one of the most biodiverse terrestrial habitats. Yet, we lack an integrative conceptual framework for understanding the patterns and mechanisms driving soil biodiversity. One of the underlying reasons for our poor understanding of soil biodiversity patterns relates to whether key biodiversity theories (historically developed for aboveground and aquatic organisms) are applicable to patterns of soil biodiversity. Here, we present a systematic literature review to investigate whether and how key biodiversity theories (species–energy relationship, theory of island biogeography, metacommunity theory, niche theory and neutral theory) can explain observed patterns of soil biodiversity. We then discuss two spatial compartments nested within soil at which biodiversity theories can be applied to acknowledge the scale‐dependent nature of soil biodiversity.