Size matters: how forest disturbances disproportionately impact soil organisms

Worldwide forests are currently facing increasing disturbances caused by climatic and anthropogenic pressures, including those driven by the increasing demand for biomass, which threaten forest biodiversity and limit their ability to maintain sustainable productivity and long-term stability.

In this context, as a group of HoliSoils researchers, we asked how and to what extent soil organisms (including all the spectrum of body sizes) may respond to forest canopy disturbances, and if the effect of the disturbance can be attenuated by post-disturbance management practices. For that, we have inventoried a large proportion of the soil biota present in the soil.

Our quite unique multi-taxon study has showed that the effects of forest disturbance on soil organisms are more severe as the size of the organisms and the disturbance intensity increase. Changes in the organism body size distribution due to the disturbance could imply further long-term consequences for soil functioning.