title: A temporal approach to linking aboveground and belowground ecology.
abstract: Ecologists are becoming increasingly aware of the role of aboveground-belowground relationships in controlling ecosystem processes and properties. Here, we review recent studies that show that relationships between aboveground and belowground communities operate over a hierarchy of temporal scales, ranging from days to seasons, to millennia, with differing consequences for ecosystem structure and function. We propose that a temporal framework is crucial to our understanding of the nature and ecological significance of relationships between aboveground and belowground communities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, LA1 4YQ. r.bardgett@lancaster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bardgett
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Ruediger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Steve K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Schmidt