A temporal approach to linking aboveground and belowground ecology.
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.
Bardgett
Richard D
RD
Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, LA1 4YQ. r.bardgett@lancaster.ac.uk
Bowman
William D
WD
Kaufmann
Ruediger
R
Schmidt
Steve K
SK