Deploying microbes as drivers and indicators in ecological restoration

Abstract

Ecosystem degradation is a major environmental threat. Beyond conservation, restoration of degraded ecosystems is a prerequisite to reinstate their ability to provide essential services and benefits. Most of the restoration efforts focus on aboveground restoration, that is, plants, under the assumption that establishment of plant species will reestablish the faunal and microbial species. While this may be true for some cases, it is not a general rule. Reestablishment of microbial communities by dedicated efforts is also necessary for successful restoration, as cycling of essential nutrients for plant growth and decomposition of organic matter is dependent on them. The role of microbial fertilizers and efficient organisms used in agriculture needs to be explored in restoration. Testing of symbiotic interactions between potential plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria and plants native to a degraded ecosystem can be conducted and utilized for successful establishment of plant species. However, utmost care must be taken while introducing new microbial species or non-native plant species to an area, as they can adversely affect the resident microbial community. Techniques like phospholipid fatty-acid analysis can be used for taxonomic identification of large microbial groups in non-degraded reference ecosystems before introducing microbial species into a degraded ecosystem. For use of microbes in restoration, more studies on microbe-plant interactions need to be conducted. For use of Soil Microbial Community (SMC) as indicators of restoration, their role and function in the ecology of the area need to be elucidated by employing all the available techniques.

Boosting species evenness, productivity and weed control in a mixed meadow by promoting arbuscular mycorrhizas

“…Lastly, an analogous approach to the one we used can be developed for the restoration of natural ecosystems with grasslands, another promising field of application for AM symbiosis and plant growth-promoting microbes in general ( Singh Rawat et al., 2022 ).…”

“…An intriguing aspect to be clarified is the effect of CO-dependent AM promotion on rhizobial infection in legumes, which host both symbionts in a largely unexplored physiological and metabolic balance. Lastly, an analogous approach to the one we used can be developed for the restoration of natural ecosystems with grasslands, another promising field of application for AM symbiosis and plant growthpromoting microbes in general (Singh Rawat et al, 2022).…”

Atlantic Forest restoration recovers physical and biological properties in the short term, but not the general soil quality

“…For example, the soil arthropods are involved in organic matter decomposition and translocation, nutrient cycling, microflora activity regulation, and bioturbation (Menta & Remelli, 2020). All these processes, especially the reestablishment of microbial communities, help to improve soil quality and ecosystem services and benefit plant growth (Rawat et al, 2022). The presence of different groups of soil fauna in the MAR areas in similar amounts to the RE is an important indication that soil processes have been recovered.…”

“…Nevertheless, there is a considerable lack of knowledge on the recovery of soil quality and belowground ecosystem services in the Atlantic Forest restoration areas (Mendes et al, 2019). Most restoration practitioners focus on vegetation recovery alone, believing that plants will re‐establish the faunal and microbial species, which does not always happen (Rawat et al, 2022). One approach integrating soil monitoring is the basis for creating more resilient ecosystems and enables a broader analysis of ecosystem recovery (Nolan et al, 2021).…”

Inoculation with rhizospheric microorganisms in tropical dry forests restoration increased microbial diversity but had no effect on seedling growth

“…Considering the biological complexity that can determine the success of restoration projects, underground soil biota may play key roles not only for plant growth, but also for plant survival, defense, modulative responses, and resilience. As such, increasing soil microbiota diversity may improve the possibility of success in a restoration context (Rawat et al 2023).…”