Different soils, different communities

Exploring soil biodiversity across landscapes

Have you ever wondered why a forest floor, a vegetable garden, and a city park feel so different beneath your feet? The answer is not only found above ground; each environment also contains a unique community of organisms below the surface.

Soil biodiversity is shaped by many interacting factors, including soil properties, climate, vegetation, the availability of organic matter, and human management. These factors influence which organisms can survive, how abundant they are, and how they interact.

Just as different ecosystems support different communities of plants and animals, they also support distinct communities of soil organisms.