Hide and Seek of Soil Microbes

<p>The question posed in the Special Issue Hide and Seek of Soil Microbes-Who is Where with Whom and Why? can be considered as the central paradigm of soil microbial ecology. This book is aimed at opening a vivid discussion on i) the adequate experimental design for the representative study of soil ecosystems; ii) possibilities and limitations of observing microbial diversity; iii) possibilities and limitations of data analysis and their impact on ecological conclusions; iv) microbial spatial heterogeneity across different scales; and v) how to observe microbial niche partitioning and occupation in soil ecosystems soil microbial communities and their function. In what sense can microbes microbial communities and ecosystems have a function?</p>