Below-ground biodiversity, comprising a variety of soil organisms such as bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and insects, plays a crucial role in supporting above-ground biodiversity by influencing soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant growth. Healthy and diverse soil ecosystems enhance plant diversity by improving soil structure, nutrient availability, and plant disease resistance. In turn, diverse plant communities contribute to below-ground biodiversity by providing a range of root exudates and organic matter, which serve as food sources and habitats for soil organisms. This reciprocal relationship creates a dynamic feedback loop where below-ground and above-ground biodiversity support and enhance each other, leading to more resilient and productive ecosystems.
Aboveground diversity might promote belowground diversity or vice versa by increasing the variety of food resources (litter quality and composition), the range of environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), or the structural complexity of the habitat. The soil is home to a complex ecosystem of animals, plants, and microbes (including bacteria, fungi and viruses) these below-ground organisms play major roles in the health of above-ground ecosystems. There is a decrease in species diversity from lower to higher altitudes on a mountain. Drop in temperature and greater seasonal variability at higher altitudes are a major factor that reduces diversity. Biodiversity influences how disease occurs in an individual or population, how the local climate is able to support life, and how resilient an area will be against flooding or a catastrophic storm. Regulating services are the processes that renew resources and ensure a functional, habitable environment. Habitat complexity strongly affects the structure and dynamics of ecological communities, with increased complexity often leading to greater species diversity and abundance.
Below-ground biodiversity, comprising soil microorganisms, fungi, and invertebrates, plays a crucial role in sustaining above-ground biodiversity by influencing nutrient cycling, soil structure, and plant health. These organisms decompose organic matter, releasing essential nutrients that promote plant growth, which in turn supports a variety of above-ground species, including herbivores and their predators. Additionally, symbiotic relationships, such as those between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots, enhance water and nutrient uptake, bolstering plant resilience and diversity. Conversely, above-ground biodiversity affects below-ground ecosystems through the quality and quantity of organic matter inputs, like leaf litter and root exudates, which serve as food for soil organisms. Diverse plant communities can foster a more complex and stable soil food web, enhancing ecosystem functions and resilience. Thus, the intricate interactions between below-ground and above-ground biodiversity create a dynamic and interdependent system, where changes in one sphere can significantly impact the other.