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  • Glossary item | 20 Mar 2025

Soil biodiversity

Bioeconomy

Soil biodiversity reflects the mix of living organisms in the soil. These organisms interact with one another and with plants and small animals, thus forming a web of biological activity. Soil biodiversity varies greatly across the globe as the species numbers, composition and diversity of a given soil depend on factors such as air, temperature, acidity, moisture, nutrient content and organic matter.

European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Johnson, N., Scheu, S., Ramirez, K., Lemanceau, P. et al., Global soil biodiversity atlas, Johnson, N.(editor), Scheu, S.(editor), Ramirez, K.(editor), Lemanceau, P.(editor), Eggleton, P.(editor), Jones, A.(editor), Moreira, F.(editor), Barrios, E.(editor), De Deyn, G.(editor), Briones, M.(editor), Kaneko, N.(editor), Kandeler, E.(editor), Wall, D.(editor), Six, J.(editor), Fierer, N.(editor), Jeffery, S.(editor), Lavelle, P.(editor), Putten, W.(editor), Singh, B.(editor), Miko, L.(editor), Hedlund, K.(editor), Orgiazzi, A.(editor), Chotte, J.(editor), Bardgett, R.(editor), Behan-Pelletier, V.(editor), Fraser, T.(editor) and Montanarella, L.(editor), Publications Office, 2016, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2788/2613

Source category: EC Technical Documents