Land-use change, drought adaptation and microbial mediation: Integrating carbon, pollination and soil ecosystem services
Abstract
Land-use change and climate-induced droughts increasingly threaten ecosystem services by altering soil microbial communities, vegetation dynamics and pollination networks. Microbial mediation plays a pivotal role in sustaining soil fertility, carbon cycling and plant productivity under these stressors, yet the integrative understanding of microbial, ecological and human dimensions remains limited. This article synthesizes current knowledge on how land-use transformations and drought interact to influence microbial function, carbon sequestration and pollination services. Drawing on case studies from agricultural landscapes, drylands and restored ecosystems, we demonstrate how microbial diversity and plant-microbe-pollinator interactions buffer ecosystem services against environmental stress. By integrating microbial ecology with land management and adaptive strategies, this framework informs sustainable conservation and climate adaptation practices that preserve soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.