Richard Bardgett

Soils host some of the most complex ecological communities on Earth, yet our knowledge of how this hidden biological complexity underpins critical ecosystem functions and their resilience to perturbations, such as climate extremes, remains limited. This knowledge gap severely constrains our ability to manage soils at a time of escalating climate change and soil degradation. Closing this gap is therefore critical if we are to develop the fundamental understanding needed to guide land management decisions that promote healthy, resilient soil. In this talk, I will highlight recent developments in this area to illustrate how consideration of soil biodiversity can improve our understanding of the consequences of global change for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. I will also consider how new soil ecological knowledge might be harnessed to address major sustainability challenges, with a focus on restoring the functioning and resilience of degraded soils. Much is still to be learned about soil biodiversity, and I will highlight some of the many challenges that face ecologists in their exploration of soil life and its importance for people and the planet.