Emerging soil microbial-based strategies and seed enhancement technologies for restoring biodiverse degraded ecosystems

Global environmental changes such as drought, intense fire and land degradation are rapidly transforming the structure and functioning of ecosystems worldwide. These changes are leading to a severe loss of above and belowground biodiversity and increased soil degradation. Soil microorganisms control important ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, plant productivity and climate regulation. Thus, microbially assisted conservation and restoration have the potential to reconnect above- and belowground dynamics, creating functional ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change impacts.
Our recent research has focused on (i) assessing the responses of soil microbial communities to disturbance, e.g., severe fire, and extractive activities such as mining, and (ii) developing bio inoculants composed of locally sourced soil bacteria from the rhizosphere, and biocrust cyanobacteria, to promote plant growth and soil fertility and enhance ecosystem capacity for global change adaptation. This presentation will showcase some key findings of these studies conducted in contrasting Australian ecosystems (shrubland-grassland in the arid zone, and subtropical/temperate forests). These outcomes include the successful translocation of whole-soil communities for inhibiting weeds, and the effective use of indigenous microbes (rhizobacteria and cyanobacteria combinations) for soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation, and growth promotion of key arid and temperate plant species. We will also discuss the potential applicability of these approaches through emerging seed enhancement technologies such as biopellets, for landscape-scale conservation and restoration programs in the context of climate change.