HoliSoils at the forefront of the 2025 Ecology of Soil Microorganisms conference
The Ecology of Soil Microorganisms 2025 conference in Helsinki brought together leading researchers focused on soil microbial ecology and ecosystem functioning. The HoliSoils project had a strong presence throughout the event, contributing both field-based insights and the latest research on soil health and microbial communities.
Exploring an HoliSoils test site
The conference began with a pre-conference excursion to Ränskälänkorpi, a HoliSoils test site in a drained peatland forest. Guided by two HoliSoils team members (Qian Li and Tijana Martinović), together with two more scientists from Luke (Tiina Törmänen and Sakari Sarkkola) participants explored field experiments investigating gas flux dynamics, extensive measurements collected by the eddy covariance tower, forest management practices, and microbial responses to disturbances.
Discussing HoliSoils research during the sessions
The HoliSoils consortium made significant scientific contributions that were highlighted throughout the programme.
During the session Forest and peatland soils, Sylwia Adamczyk presented how nitrogen addition affects microbial necromass and tree secondary metabolism, while Alexandre Raimbault spoke about short-term microbial responses to forest harvesting.
In Microbial networks and habitats, in his keynote Petr Baldrian addressed fungal and bacterial dynamics in soil, Bartosz Adamczyk introduced biochemical tools for microbial research, and Qian Li showed the impacts of soil disturbance on GHG emissions and microbial communities.
In European soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable management session, Tijana Martinović presented the HoliSoils project and shared the results on root exclusion effects on microbial and biogeochemical processes across European forests. She also participated as a panelist in the discussion that followed.
In the Soil carbon and nutrient cycles poster session, Etienne Richy presented work on phosphorus limitation impact on soil carbon accumulation under long-term nitrogen input, while Daniela Guasconi showed how forest management and microbial diversity affect soil respiration. Lorenzo Menichetti presented the ecological drivers of organic matter temperature sensitivity in forest soils across Europe.
Shaping the future of soil health in Europe
HoliSoils strong presence throughout the event underlined its leading role in European soil microbial research. The diversity of contributions reflected the project’s interdisciplinary scope, from ecosystem-scale experiments to molecular insights into microbial function.
Explore the presentations and posters of the HoliSoils’ scientist at the event!
Sylwia Adamczyk, Alexandre Raimbault, Bartosz Adamczyk, and Qian Li presenting the project results. Pictures: Béraud Cédric.
