Grasslands cover nearly 40% of the Earth’s land area and have vital ecosystem functions. Human activities and climate change have profound impacts on grassland soil microorganisms. For instance, deforestation, urbanization, and conversion of grasslands into agricultural land can alter soil microorganism composition and diversity; such changes can disrupt the natural ecosystem and affect grassland soil functions. Moreover, rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels associated with climate change can impact grassland soil microorganisms, in turn altering microbial community composition, activity, and functional diversity. Clarifying the mechanisms of such impacts is essential for promoting sustainable land management practices and the conservation of grassland ecosystems.

Understanding the patterns and dynamics of how human activities and climate change impact grassland soil microorganisms is essential for a better understanding of the intricate relationships between human activities, climate change, and grassland soil microorganisms. Therefore, the present research will mainly investigate the effects of human activities and climate change on soil microorganisms in grassland ecosystems. Research on the responses of soil microorganisms to human activities and climate change in grasslands is necessary to assist the development of strategies for sustainable land management and conservation practices that will mitigate negative impacts on soil microbial communities and maintain grassland ecosystem health.

This Research Topic welcomes all kinds of article types. Subtopics that will be explored include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Ecological functions of microorganisms in grassland ecosystems, impacted by climate change or human activities, in the framework of element cycling, pollutant, degradation, etc.
- The role of grassland soil microorganisms in mediating greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) in response to climate change.
- The impacts of agricultural practices, deforestation, and urbanization on soil microbial communities in grasslands.
- The changes in soil enzyme activity, microbial diversity, and functional potential due to land-use conversion of grasslands.
- The interactive effects of human activities and climate change factors on soil microbial communities and their functional roles.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Microbiology

Participating Journals

Impact