A Framework for Soil Microbial Ecology in Urban Environments

Urban ecosystems, although highly altered by humans, host diverse microbiomes that support vital ecosystem processes. While microbial ecologists are beginning to understand the drivers of microbial assembly and the link between community structure and function in many ecosystems, few of these advances have been applied to urban ecosystems. In this synthesis, we review research on the urban soil microbiome and develop a framework to integrate soil microbial communities with urban ecosystem function. We identify disturbance, altered resources, and heterogeneity as key drivers through which urbanization affects soils and soil microorganisms. Steep environmental gradients in many urban systems present a unique opportunity to address fundamental questions in microbial ecology, such as how microbes respond to stress and how biogeochemical rates relate to microbial diversity and composition. Answering such questions will help develop practical and equitable strategies for managing ecosystem benefits in cities where billions of people live.