The Role of Soil Fauna and Microbial Communities in Forests

Dear Colleagues,

Soil fauna and microbial communities play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling, as well as in maintaining soil structure. They are, therefore, essential for healthy, sustainable forest ecosystems. However, given the current global challenges around climate change, land degradation, pollution, and biological invasions, the importance of soil microbiota in sustaining soil functionality requires particular attention. Global forest cover and health are decreasing due to various disturbances that not only affect trees, but also other components of biocenoses, resulting in various symptoms of forest decline. This Special Issue invites articles that explore the diverse roles of soil microorganisms and fauna in promoting sustainable forest soil management and ecosystem services. Information about less-studied microbial and faunal groups that play an important role in forest soils, from boreal to tropical regions, is particularly anticipated. Articles exploring the relationship between the biological characteristics of these groups and their functions in so-called ‘old forests’ are especially welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Changes in the abundance and diversity of soil biota;
• Role of microorganisms in soil carbon storage;
• Molecular diversity and functions of soil biota;
• Interactions between soil organisms and plants;
• Adaptation of the soil microbiome to a changing world.

Dr. Beata Klimek
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.