Highlights
– Forests comprise a multitude of microbial-mediated reactive interfaces.
– Ecological processes and functions are associated with the microbial-mediated reactive interfaces.
– Forest microbiome facilitates the understanding of forest ecosystem function.
Abstract: Forests are highly productive ecosystems that contribute to biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen, through which it regulates climate and global change. Forests are also spatially highly heterogeneous ecosystems that comprise a multitude of microbial-mediated reactive interface driving microbial abundance, nutrient availability and microbial community and taxa. These are mainly the root–soil interface, litter–soil interface, root–root interface, and plant–atmosphere interface. Each of these interfaces has its own unique characteristics, e.g., specific drivers that affect the microbial abundance, nutrient availability, microbial community, and the dominance of certain microbial taxa. Here we review the microbial-mediated reactive interfaces in forests, focusing on the interrelation and dynamics of fungi and bacteria on a broad temporal scale with ecosystem processes ranging from short-term events (e.g., seasonal changes) to long-term stand development suffering a global climate change (e.g., global warming or nitrogen deposition). We argue that in-depth knowledge of forest microbiology can only be obtained by exploring the complex forest microbiome and its ecosystem functions. Underpinning the basis for individual forest variation would ultimately facilitate the formulation of microbiome-based strategies in the future.
Keywords: Ecological function; Forest productivity; Interactive interface; Litter decomposition; Microbiome; Nutrient cycling
DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.03.001
Authors: Fengqiao Li, Haiyun Zi, Christian Sonne, Xiaogang Li*
