Soils as a key component of the critical zone. 6, Ecology / edited by Philippe Lemanceau, Manuel Blouin.

Description based upon print version of record.

1. Life in the Soil: From Taxonomy to Ecological Integration / Manuel Blouin, Philippe Hinsinger, Patrick Lavelle and Philippe Lemanceau -- 2. Diversity of Mechanisms Involved in Soil Ecological Interactions / Manuel Blouin -- 3. Biodiversity and Ecological Functioning of Soils / Jean-Christophe Lata, Sébastien Barot, Julie Leloup, Thomas Lerch, Naoise Nunan and Xavier Raynaud -- 4. Plant-Microorganism Interactions in the Rhizosphere / Philippe Lemanceau, Matthieu Barret, Manuel Blouin, Sylvie Mazurier and Barbara Pivato -- 5. Interactions between Soil and Vegetation: Structure of Plant Communities and Soil Functioning / Grégoire T. Freschet, Cyrille Violle, Catherine Roumet and Éric Garnier -- 6. Soil Fauna: Determinants of Community Structure and Impacts on Soil Functioning / Jérôme Cortet, Sophie Joimel, Johanne Nahmani and Mickael Hedde -- 7. Molecular Ecology of Soil Organisms: The Case of Earthworms / Lise Dupont -- 8. Feedback Loops in Soils: Evidence and Theoretical Implications / Jérôme Mathieu -- 9. Actions and Feedback: Consequences for Soil Management / Sébastien Barot, Manuel Blouin and Philippe Lemanceau.

Soils are environments where a myriad of different organisms evolve, determining a series of functions which translate into ecosystem services that are essential for humanity. Improving our understanding of these organisms, their biodiversity and their interactions with each other, as well as with the environment, represents a major challenge.Soil ecology has its roots in natural history. The ecological approach focused on soils is notable for integrating, at least partially, the contributions of soil sciences (physics, chemistry, biochemistry). By renewing methods of observation and analysis (especially molecular ones) and through the development of experimental approaches and modeling, an ecology connected with other soil-based disciplines emerges and begins to influence aboveground ecology.Soils as a Key Component of the Critical Zone 6 presents an updated vision of knowledge and research in soil ecology as a complex system from the best French specialists.

Includes bibliographical references and index.