Soil networks become more connected and take up more carbon as nature restoration progresses

• Published in: Nature communications 2017-02, Vol.8 (1), p.14349-14349, Article 14349
• Main Authors: Morriën, Elly, Hannula, S. Emilia, Snoek, L. Basten, Helmsing, Nico R., Zweers, Hans, de Hollander, Mattias, Soto, Raquel Luján, Bouffaud, Marie-Lara, Buée, Marc, Dimmers, Wim, Duyts, Henk, Geisen, Stefan, Girlanda, Mariangela, Griffiths, Rob I., Jørgensen, Helene-Bracht, Jensen, John, Plassart, Pierre, Redecker, Dirk, Schmelz, Rűdiger M, Schmidt, Olaf, Thomson, Bruce C., Tisserant, Emilie, Uroz, Stephane, Winding, Anne, Bailey, Mark J., Bonkowski, Michael, Faber, Jack H., Martin, Francis, Lemanceau, Philippe, de Boer, Wietse, van Veen, Johannes A., van der Putten, Wim H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 101/58; 631/158/2445; 631/158/2453; 631/158/853/2006; Agricultural Sciences; Alterra - Animal ecology; Alterra - Dierecologie; Animal Ecology; Annan lantbruksvetenskap; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodiversity; Biologi; Biological Sciences; Biology; Biomass; Biota - physiology; Bodembiologie; Bodembiologie en biologische bodemkwaliteit; Carbon; Carbon - chemistry; Chair Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality; Climate Research; Dierecologie; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystems; Ekologi; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use; EPS; Food Chain; Food chains; Fungi - metabolism; Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap; Global Changes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Klimatforskning; Laboratorium voor Nematologie; Laboratory of Nematology; Lantbruksvetenskap och veterinärmedicin; Leerstoelgroep Bodembiologie en biologische Bodemkwaliteit; Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap; multidisciplinary; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Nitrogen; Other Agricultural Sciences; PE&RC; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sciences of the Universe; Soil - chemistry; Soil Biology; Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality; Soil Microbiology
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14349

Soil organisms have an important role in aboveground community dynamics and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial ecosystems. However, most studies have considered soil biota as a black box or focussed on specific groups, whereas little is known about entire soil networks. Here we show that during the course of nature restoration on abandoned arable land a compositional shift in soil biota, preceded by tightening of the belowground networks, corresponds with enhanced efficiency of carbon uptake. In mid- and long-term abandoned field soil, carbon uptake by fungi increases without an increase in fungal biomass or shift in bacterial-to-fungal ratio. The implication of our findings is that during nature restoration the efficiency of nutrient cycling and carbon uptake can increase by a shift in fungal composition and/or fungal activity. Therefore, we propose that relationships between soil food web structure and carbon cycling in soils need to be reconsidered. Effects of habitat restoration on belowground organisms and ecosystem processes are poorly understood. Morriën and colleagues show that changes in the composition and network interactions of soil biota lead to improved carbon uptake efficiency when formerly cultivated land is restored.