Modeling the Link Between Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemical Process Dynamics

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Background

Biogeochemical processes shape ecosystems as they control the recycling of nutrients, most global elemental cycles, as well as the transformation of many anthropogenic chemicals. Ecological feedbacks (i.e. interactions within the microbial community and with the biotic and abiotic environment) determine the ability of microbial communities to provide ecosystem services under specific physical, chemical, and ecological conditions (and their variations in space and time).

Numerical models have become established tools for the simulation of biogeochemical processes. Increasing knowledge and data on critical controls of microbial growth and activity and more generally on microbial ecology provides the opportunity to use sophisticated model approaches for improving the description and prediction of biogeochemical processes in environmental systems.

Despite significant recent improvements in the understanding of microbial activity and the factors controlling it, modeling approaches typically link biogeochemical reaction rates to oversimplified descriptions of microbial metabolism and dynamics. They do not yet fully leverage current and emerging theories, empirical understanding of microbial metabolism, or the increasing availability of quantitative microbial data across diverse systems. Overcoming this limitation by improving the link between microbial biophysics, metabolism, ecology, and biogeochemical processes holds promise to achieve new model-based insights and improved predictions on the drivers of biogeochemical reactions and their complex interactions in the environment. It would also allow expand the data available for numerical model constraint and benchmarking.

This Research Topic seeks articles that evaluate new and existing theory, explore novel modeling approaches, as well as innovative analyses to better link microbial ecology and biogeochemical process dynamics. We welcome contributions on numerical modeling approaches as well as on mathematical concepts linking biogeochemical rate expressions to the ecological behavior of microorganisms. This may include but is not limited to
• Microbial competition or cooperation
• Integrated data analyses of microbial interaction and reaction networks
• Spatial distributions of microorganisms and factors controlling them (e.g., transport, chemotaxis, solid matrix properties)
• Trophic interactions, including plant-microbial symbioses and rhizosphere interactions
• Integrating microbial acclimation, assembly, and evolution under stress or disturbance
• Microbial biophysics and energetics

The focus of this Research Topic is on natural environments but contributions describing conditions in engineered systems are also welcome if they are applicable to environmental systems.

Keywords: Biogeochemistry, Microorganisms, Simulation, Environmental Systems, Theoretical Concepts

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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