Physicochemical and biological interfacial interactions: impacts on soil ecosystem and biodiversity

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences 2013-04, Vol.68 (8), p.2199-2209
• Main Authors: Huang, Pan Ming, Wang, Shan-Li, Tzou, Yu-Min, Huang, Yibin, Weng, Boqi, Zhuang, Shunyao, Wang, Ming Kuang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; bioactive properties; biochemical compounds; biodiversity; Biogeochemistry; Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; ecosystems; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geology; humans; Hydrology/Water Resources; land use; landscapes; microbial ecology; Original Article; pollutants; Pollution, environment geology; rhizosphere; soil; soil solution; Soils; Surficial geology; Terrestrial Pollution
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-012-1903-9

Soil is a vital biological habitat, which is of primary importance in determining and regulating biological activity and biodiversity. Therefore, it is Earth’s most important resource in sustaining both belowground and aboveground biological activities. Biodiversity versus landscape diversity and land use practices in multifunctional landscapes have been addressed. Humans have so manipulated nature that few locations in the world remain without human influence, causing unforeseen changes in ecosystem continuously and biodiversity. Among the environmental compartments, about 90 % of environmental pollutants are bound with soil particles. The soil-bound pollutants may be released to the soil solution through physical, chemical and biological interfacial interactions and pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. These interfacial interactions are especially important in the rhizosphere, where the kinds and concentrations of biomolecules are different from the bulk soil because of intense biological activity. These biomolecules affect biogeochemical processes, soil microbial ecology, nutrient and contaminant dynamics, abiotic and biotic factors, and soil biodiversity through allelopathic interactions. Soil interfacial interactions under different pedogenic processes and anthropogenic activity in relation to belowground biodiversity and the impact on aboveground biodiversity, productivity and integrity should be an important and exciting area of science for years to come.