However, the influence of the soil fauna on microbial communities remains poorly understood.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Opposing effects of aboveground and belowground bacterial diversity on ecosystem multifunctionality under global change (2026) · doi

  climate warming, nitrogen deposition) are known to alter bacterial diversity in soil and the rhizosphere, but their effects on phyllosphere microbes and above–belowground community linkages remain unclear.

  Keywords: climate warming nitrogen deposition known alter bacterial diversity soil rhizosphere effects phyllosphere microbes belowground community
• Host genotype-enriched rhizosphere microbes enhance pea (Pisum sativum L.) yield (2026) · doi

  Aims The rhizosphere microbiota is critical for crop productivity, but the mechanisms by which host genotype shapes microbial communities to influence yield, especially in legumes, are not well understood.

  Keywords: aims rhizosphere microbiota critical crop productivity mechanisms host genotype shapes microbial communities influence yield especially
• Soil carbon dynamics shape bacterial communities across grassland and agricultural soils with implications for phosphorus (2026) · doi

  Introduction Phosphorus (P) is a critical nutrient influencing soil fertility, yet its role in shaping bacterial community structure remains underexplored, particularly in native grasslands versus agricultural systems.

  Keywords: introduction phosphorus critical nutrient influencing soil fertility role shaping bacterial community structure remains underexplored particularly
• Dual roles of microbes in mediating soil carbon dynamics in response to warming (2024) · doi

  However, previous studies have mainly focused on microorganism-mediated soil C release, and little is known about whether and how climate warming affects microbial anabolism and the subsequent C input in permafrost regions.

  Keywords: previous mainly focused microorganism mediated soil release little known whether climate warming affects microbial anabolism
• Nutrient and moisture limitations reveal keystone metabolites linking rhizosphere metabolomes and microbiomes (2024) · doi

  The connection between rhizodeposition and rhizosphere microbiome succession has been suggested, particularly under environmental stress conditions, yet definitive evidence is scarce.

  Keywords: connection rhizodeposition rhizosphere microbiome succession particularly environmental stress conditions definitive evidence scarce
• Genetic differentiation methods of microorganisms in the soil – plant system (2017) · doi

  Phyllosphere bacteria have the potential to influence plant biogeography and ecosystem function through their influence on plant performance under different environmental conditions, but the drivers of variation in leaf-associated bacterial biodiversity among host plants are not well understood.

  Keywords: influence plant phyllosphere bacteria potential biogeography ecosystem function performance different environmental conditions drivers variation leaf
• Temperature sensitivity of soil microbial communities: An application of macromolecular rate theory to microbial respiration (2016) · doi

  Abstract There is compelling evidence that microbial communities vary widely in their temperature sensitivity and may adapt to warming through time.

  Keywords: abstract there compelling evidence microbial communities vary widely temperature sensitivity adapt warming time
• Biological Interactions Mediate Soil Functions by Altering Rare Microbial Communities (2024) · doi

  However, the influence of the soil fauna on microbial communities remains poorly understood.

  Keywords: influence soil fauna microbial communities remains poorly understood