Integrating microbial function and social-ecological dynamics

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Introduction

Ecosystems are shaped by interactions across multiple scales—from microbial activity in soils and water to human land-use and policy decisions. Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and archaea, are central to ecosystem processes, facilitating nutrient transformations, soil fertility and carbon cycling. These microbial processes underpin ecosystem services that directly support human well-being, such as food production, water purification and climate regulation.

Social-ecological systems emphasize the interconnectedness of human societies and ecosystems. Decisions regarding agriculture, urban development and resource management feed back into ecological processes, influencing microbial activity and ecosystem resilience. Integrating microbial ecology with SES frameworks allows a holistic understanding of how ecosystem services are maintained, enhanced, or degraded. Such integration is particularly critical in the context of global change, where climate extremes, pollution and habitat modification challenge both ecological and societal resilience. Soil microbes drive nutrient cycling and carbon dynamics through decomposition, nitrogen fixation and organic matter transformation. Functional diversity and redundancy within microbial communities ensure ecosystem stability under environmental stress. Specialized microbial taxa, such as ectomycorrhizal fungi, facilitate plant growth in nutrient-limited soils and enhance drought resilience by improving water and nutrient uptake. Coastal wetlands provide a unique interface between terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Xu C, et al. 2021). Microbial communities in wetland soils regulate biogeochemical cycles, influencing greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) and nutrient retention. Vegetation type, inundation frequency and hydrological regimes shape microbial composition and activity, demonstrating that microbial-mediated processes are tightly linked to both biotic and abiotic ecosystem components.

Description

Environmental disturbances, such as drought, flooding and pollution, can alter microbial community structure and function. Pre-exposure to stress can enhance microbial resistance, creating an “ecosystem memory” that promotes resilience. Microbial feedbacks influence plant physiology, soil fertility and carbon cycling, thereby modulating ecosystem recovery after disturbances. Microbial decomposition and soil organic matter stabilization directly affect carbon storage in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems. Mycorrhizal networks and bacterial consortia influence plant productivity, soil structure and carbon fluxes. Effective management of microbial communities can enhance carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change impacts. Microbial-mediated nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization and organic matter decomposition underpin soil fertility (Kjøller R 2006). In agricultural landscapes, promoting beneficial microbial interactions enhances crop yield and nutrient use efficiency while reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. These practices link microbial ecology with sustainable land management and food security.

Wetlands, through microbial-driven denitrification and pollutant degradation, maintain water quality and reduce eutrophication. Microbial activity in these systems also modulates greenhouse gas fluxes and supports biodiversity, illustrating the critical role of microbes in maintaining ecosystem services in both natural and restored landscapes. Land-use change, agricultural intensification, urbanization and pollution profoundly influence microbial community structure and function. Practices such as monocropping, overfertilization and wetland drainage can reduce microbial diversity, impair nutrient cycling and decrease ecosystem resilience. Recognizing these impacts is essential for designing sustainable management strategies. Integrating social dynamics into ecological management involves participatory governance, stakeholder engagement and knowledge co-production (Bergmark L, et al. 2012). Communities that actively participate in ecosystem management can implement locally adapted strategies, such as sustainable agriculture, wetland restoration and conservation programs, which support both microbial function and ecosystem services. Adaptive management frameworks that incorporate ecological monitoring, microbial assessments and social feedback loops enable dynamic responses to environmental change (Stokols D 1992). Policies promoting ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection and sustainable resource use enhance the resilience of social-ecological systems and their microbial foundations.

Studies in southern Australian temperate wetlands reveal that inundation patterns and vegetation types shape microbial communities, influencing greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient cycling. Management strategies that restore hydrological regimes and native vegetation optimize microbial-mediated services, enhancing resilience against climate extremes. Drylands, despite water scarcity, contribute disproportionately to global productivity due to microbial and plant adaptations. Biological soil crusts, symbiotic fungi and drought-tolerant bacterial communities stabilize soils, enhance nitrogen availability and promote carbon storage, illustrating the critical role of microbial mediation in ecosystem services under stress (Stokols D 1996). In managed agricultural systems, integrating microbial monitoring with land-use planning improves soil fertility and productivity. The use of biofertilizers, crop rotation and organic amendments fosters beneficial microbial interactions, balancing production with ecosystem sustainability. Community involvement ensures that these practices are socially acceptable and economically viable.

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

Conflict of Interest

References

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