This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15.
Soil biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem functioning and resilience, playing a critical role in maintaining the health of terrestrial environments. Recent studies have underscored the urgent need to understand global and regional patterns of soil biodiversity, particularly in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as land use change and climate variability. The motivation for launching this Collection, “Underground Biomes: Soil Biodiversity Across Scales,” stems from the recognition that rare and endemic soil organisms are essential for ecosystem adaptation and resilience. As we grapple with the implications of multiple interacting global change factors, there is a pressing need for comprehensive insights into soil biogeography and endemism, alongside long-term ecological monitoring that captures temporal shifts in these subterranean communities.
This Collection aims to gather innovative research that elucidates the form and function of soil biodiversity. We encourage contributions that explore the responses of soil organisms to global change, as well as those that highlight the importance of spatial and temporal scaling in informing conservation strategies. By synthesizing knowledge across various scales—from local to global—we hope to foster a deeper understanding of how soil biodiversity underpins ecosystem functions and services. In doing so, we aspire to illuminate the critical role of underground biomes in sustaining terrestrial ecosystems and inform future research directions that can enhance our stewardship of these vital resources.