EUROSOIL 2012

S11.1.

Title: Impact of climate change on soil biochemical activity
Convener: Trasar-Cepeda Carmen - IIAG-CSIC - Spain
Co-Conveners: Gil-Sotres Fernando - Universidad de Santiago - Spain
Leirós M. Carmen - Universidad de Santiago - Spain

Given that it is generally accepted that the climate is changing, it is essential to investigate the effects that changes in climate parameters (temperature, precipitation) will have on the soil C cycle (through changes in inputs and outputs) and on the activity of soil microorganisms.  For this symposium, we invite contributions that address the effects of changes in precipitation, temperature and vegetation, brought about by climate change, on soil metabolic processes, i.e. on:
a) Enzyme activities
b) Microbial activity
c) Mineralization of organic matter 
d) Gas emissions from soils
e) Thermodynamics of soil metabolic processes (including enzyme activities). 

S11.2.

Title: Soil biodiversity and ecosystem services
Convener: Winding Anne - Aarhus University - Denmark
Co-Convener: Creamer Rachel - Teagasc - Ireland

Soils provide essential ecosystem services such as primary production, regulation of biogeochemical cycles and their consequences on climate, water filtration, resistance to diseases and pests, and regulation of above-ground biodiversity. Concomitantly, soils are exposed to many anthropogenic threats. The European Commission aims to define a policy for sustainable management of soils with a view to adopt a legally binding Soil Framework Directive. Scientific and technological knowledge on soil biodiversity and functioning in relation to ecosystem services is required for reaching such a goal. Soils host a huge diversity of microbes (archaea, bacteria, fungi) and fauna (protozoa, microarthropods, nematodes, oligochaeta) for which our knowledge of function and diversity remains very limited. This is related to the small size of the soilborne organisms, their diversity, the difficulty of accessing them, and to the great heterogeneity of their habitats at different scale levels. However, recent progresses in the molecular characterization of the biodiversity raises stimulating prospects to explore its complexity and better understand its functioning. In the symposium the latest achievements of soil biodiversity and the importance of soil biodiversity for ecosystem services are the topic for scientific presentations. The symposium is organized by the EU FP7 project EcoFINDERS. 

S11.3.

Title: Ecosystem services and functions driven by the diversity of soil biota
Convener: Potthoff Martin - University of Göttingen - Germany
Co-Conveners: Gardi Ciro - European Commission - Joint Research Centre Ispra - Italy
Guenola Peres - University of Rennes - France
Zaller Johann - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna - Austria

To link biodiversity to functions and ecosystem services is the current challenge in environmental sciences. Soil biota provides services that are beneficial to the productivity and sustainability of land use systems. This symposium aims to discuss how land use systems affect soil biodiversity in Europe and how soil biodiversity (i.e. the performance of functional groups) feeds back to soil functions and ecosystem services. The context of biodiversity and sustainability in agricultural systems is of high relevance. The joined European agricultural policy including soil and biodiversity conservation is asking for surveys throughout Europe. The strong progress in developing methods for biodiversity determination in soil and the quantification of biota specific impacts ensures contributions with high value in basic science. Moreover, transversal interactions with socio-economical sciences should lead in the development of tool to assess the cost- effect of soil biodiversity on ecosystem services. This symposium welcomes oral and poster contributions that explore the meaning of soil biodiversity for current and future land use systems:
1 Response of soil biodiversity to agricultural land use as carried out in different Europeanregions including temporal and spatial patterns
2 Quantifications in driving processes of ecosystem functions and services induced by soilorganisms
3 Meaning of species interactions (eg. trophic interactions, competition, and mutualism)
4 Evaluation of cost-effect of soil biodiversity

S11.4.

Title: Temperature dependency of soil processes and emerging soil and ecosystem respiration
Convener: Leifeld Jens - Agroscope Research Station ART - Switzerland
Co-Conveners: Conant Richard T. - Colorado State University - USA
Reichstein Markus - Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry - Germany

The response of ecosystem carbon transforming processes by heterotrophes to changes in mean temperature and diurnal and seasonal temperature patterns is among the most disputed topics in global change research. Measured temperature responses cover a wide range and are often smaller in real ecosystems than in laboratory incubations. The mechanisms leading to the widths of range in observed temperature responses are still to be unraveled. In this session we aim bringing together ecosystem and respiration researchers, soil-process oriented scientists and modelers to discuss the most recent concepts on the role of temperature for soil and ecosystem respiration and related mechanisms of soil organic matter stabilization and destabilization, which determine reaction to temperature at different time-scales. Emerging topics such as microbial feedbacks to exoenzyme efficacy, the role of ‘old’ SOM, substrate quality and use efficiency, the role of substrate recalcitrance and availability as well as priming will build the framework for this session. Contributions from field and lab scientists as well as new developments in experimental set-ups and modeling temperature effects are welcome.  

S11.5.

Title: Organic matter decomposition: does soil diversity matter?
Convener: Bertrand Isabelle - INRA - France
Co-Conveners: Brauman Alain - IRD - France
Plassard Claude - INRA Montpellier - France
Recous Sylvie - INRA - France

Heterotrophic soil microbial biomass transforms organic matter under mineral forms then available as nutrients while the remaining residue contribute to soil organic matter builds up. These transformations are key processes mediated by the soil biotic compartment like the microbiota  that need further understanding to be able to model biogeochemical cycles in different ecosystems (agriculture, forest, bioenergy crops…). The key topic in this session will cover functional links between residue carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus dynamics and microbial diversity in soils. Questions addressed include: To what extend soil microbial diversity affect element cycling? Organic matter degradation and soil biota diversity where is the link ? (functional, taxonomic, density ?) Is residue quantity or rather quality and/or location controlling microbial biomass diversity and functioning?  Do we have to take into account the soil diversity in decomposition models of organic matter? This session will focus on plant residue/litter as sources of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur and their transformations through faunal and microbial functioning into soil organic matter. We aim at bringing together soil biologist, microbial ecologists, biogeochemists and modelers to answer the above mentioned questions.  

S11.6.

Title: Nitrogen turnover and global change - influence of ecosystem development, climate, land use and xenobiotics on abundance, diversity and activity of soil microbial key players
Convener: Schloter Michael - HMGU - Germany

Global change is affecting all parts of life on earth. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems undergo severe changes in response to changing climatic conditions, intensification of land use respectively agriculture and the application of new chemicals. Although microbes have been considered as the architects of soil quality, so far it is still not clear which factors how global changes affects, abundance, diversity and activity of certain functional microbial groups in soil. 
According to the UN Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (http://www.maweb.org/) the nitrogen input to the environment has doubled in the last 50 years accompanied by a significant reduction of biodiversity. However nitrogen is one of the crucial nutrients for all organisms. Nevertheless, several metabolites of the nitrogen cycle can negatively impact human health as well as environmental quality. 
Therefore this session should mainly focus on microbes involved in nitrogen turnover and the impact of Global Change on this functional group of microbes. In the session the current knowledge should be summarized, mainly based on the use of molecular-  as well as stable isotopes based techniques, as well as define new research strategies for the future should be considered. 

S11.7.

Title: Biogeography of soil microorganisms
Convener: Kandeler Ellen - University of Hohenheim - Germany
Co-Convener: Nunan Naoise - CNRS - France

The study of soil microbial biogeography is an emerging new discipline in soil science in which the variation of microbial abundance and diversity over space or time is examined.  It aims to shed light on the mechanisms through which microbial diversity emerges and is maintained, as well as understanding microbial regulation of organic matter cycling in different ecosystems. The processes underpinning microbial biogeographic patterns at fine- and large-scales are likely to be different: whereas habitat properties such as oxygen levels, water content, substrate accessibility, species interactions and protection from predation might be important at small-scales, plant distribution and topography might be governing factors at larger scales.  Intrinsic properties such as dispersal or extinction may operate at multiple scales. The objective of this symposium is to improve the understanding of multi-scale distribution and function of soil microorganisms. This symposium will profit from interdisciplinary approaches applying new techniques to visualize and analyse soil microorganisms and their functions within their habitat. We also would like to stimulate discussions about scaling in order to better understand how local and regional microbial diversity are related and how these are related to biogeochemical cycles.  

S11.8.

Title: Biological weathering of mineral and organo-mineral soil constituents :  occurrence, impact and application
Convener: Berthelin Jacques - LIMOS, CNRS-UHP - France
Co-Conveners: Rosling Anna - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Sweden
Violante Antonio - University of Napoli Federico II - Italy

Living organisms present in soils and in particular, micro-organisms, but also plants and their  symbiotic (mycorrhiza) and non symbiotic ( rhizospheric) association with microorganisms,   are involved in the weathering  and formation of mineral and organo-mineral constituents. Chemolithotrophic and chemoorganotrophic bacteria, fungi and roots by oxidation, reduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, production of acid and chelating agents, biodegradation of ligands … are directly and indirectly involved in solubilisation and insolubilisation of metals and non metals.  These processes occur in the formation, functioning and evolution of soils and the cycling of elements. They have application in mobility, availability of nutriments , of trace elements including heavy metals, metalloids, radionuclides, extraction and deposit of metals,etc. The objectives of the symposium is to bring together scientists of different origin to present and discuss the function and diversity of organisms involved and the parameters controling the processes, the development of environmental biotechnologies and of ecological engineering 

S11.9.

Title: Biogeochemical interfaces in soil: structure - architecture - properties - function
Convener: Totsche Kai Uwe - Friiedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena - Germany
Co-Conveners: Gerzabek Martin - University of Natural Resources and Life Science - Austria
Kögel-Knabner Ingrid - Technische Universität München - Germany

The complex processes at the biogeochemical interfaces (BGI) in soil are fundamental for the development and functions of soils and key for major ecosystem functions. Ultimately, these processes control the fate of contaminants and nutrients and such their biogeochemical cycling. The overarching aims in BGI research are to gain fundamental insight into their architecture and to develop a mechanistic understanding of the complex interplay and interdependencies of the physical, chemical and biological processes acting at and within these interfaces. The major challenges are to identify the factors controlling the architecture of biogeochemical interfaces, to link the processes operative at the molecular and/or organism scale to continuum scale phenomena in mechanistic ways, and to explain the behavior of dispersed compounds within a general framework. To put this in action, integration of soil physical, chemical and biological disciplines is mandatory. Indispensably, it requires not only the adaption but the development and joint application of advanced imaging, characterization and complementary probing techniques. The symposium aims to report on and discuss the recent advances in biogeochemical interface research with particular focus on the role of the heterogeneous and dynamic  structure for the properties of BGI and the role of BGI architecture for the functions of soils.  

S11.10.

Title: Biotic and abiotic drivers of priming effects
Convener: Fontaine Sebastian -  INRA - France
Co-Conveners: Blagodatskaya Evgenia - Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian Federation
Blagodatsky Sergey - University of Aberdeen - United Kingdom

The interactions between C pools with different availability and their effect on the C turnover are challenging for understanding and simulation.Therefore the symposium is aimed:to join the efforts and experience of many research groups studying priming effects and their consequences for resilience and adaptation of soils to changing environment to link the mechanisms of priming effects with decomposition and turnover of soil organic matter and microbial biomass, as well as with nutrient mobilization for plantsto encourage the consideration of priming effects in models on C and N dynamicsto stimulate further studies and spark new ideas on approaches to quantify priming processes and to reveal their driversTherefore, methodological approaches for identifying apparent and real priming, evaluating the uncertainties of PE estimation, and consequences for C and N turnover and destabilization of SOM from the rhizosphere up to soil profile scale are particularly encouraged. Studies evaluating the sources, directions and magnitude of PEs and their dependence on microbial and exoenzyme activity are appreciated. The studies on relevance of priming effects to expected climate and land-use changes and to increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO2 in natural and agricultural ecosystems are welcomed.
Keynote lecture Prof. Dr. Yakov Kuzyakov, University of Goettingen, Germany 

S11.11.

Title: Biomacromolecules in soils: adsorption and transformation mechanisms
Convener: Sander Michael - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich - Switzerland
Co-Convener: Pedersen Joel A. - University of Wisconsin, Madison - USA

Biomacromolecules enter soils via exudation from plant roots, secretion by microorganisms, decomposition of organisms, and from waste products. Many of these biomacromolecules play important roles in the ecology and structure of soils (e.g., extracellular enzymes, glomulin). Some biomacromolecules released to soils have the potential to negatively impact human and environmental health. Examples include antibiotic resistance genes transferred to pathogenic organisms, transgenic insecticidal proteins released by genetically modified crops, and infectious biomolecules such as viruses and prions. Assessing potential adverse effects of these biomolecules requires a mechanistic understanding of their interactions with soil particle surfaces and their transformation in soil environments. The proposed symposium focuses on the mechanisms of protein and nucleic acid interaction with soil particle surfaces and transformations in soils, and the effects of these processes on biomacromolecule bioavailability and activity. Example topics include adsorption of proteins and nucleic acids at particle-water interfaces, particle-mediated exchange of genetic material between microorganisms, reactions of proteins and nucleic acids with soil constituents, virus capsid inactivation at particle-water interfaces, and relationship between covalent and conformational modifications and altered activity.

S11.12.

Title: Omics in soil science: relevance, applications and future prespectives
Convener: Pietramellara Giacomo - University of Firenze - Italy
Co-Conveners: Landi Loretta - University of Firenze - Italy
Renella Giancarlo - University of Firenze - Italy

Detection of genes in soil has improved the knowledge of unculturable microorganisms inhabiting soil, with a better understanding of composition of soil microflora. Further developments are expected by soil metagenomics with sequencing of soil DNA. However, advances in soil functionality requires determining gene expression, and approaches such transcriptomics, proteomics and volatilomics of soil are currently suggested as the most suitable ones. The soil metabolome is based on the collection of all metabolites in the soil environment, produced by cellular processes. Thus, while mRNA expression data and proteomics or volatilomics may not account for what happens in the real soil biological communities, metabolomics, representing a metabolic profiling, can give an instantaneous snapshot of the physiology of the soil inhabiting organisms. One of the challenges of system biology and functional genomics is to integrate genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics information to give a more complete picture of living organisms The aims of this symposium is to discuss the state-of-the-art of these subjects, to underline future research needs and to present some applications for better understanding the composition and adaptation of soil. The meeting will be promoted by using e-mail lists in possess of the organizers, and personal contacts with the most re-known expertise 

S11.13.

Title: Physico-chemical processes governing the fate and transport of pathogens in soils
Convener: Berthelin Jacques - LIMOS, CNRS -UHP - France
Co-Conveners: Baveye Philippe - SIMBIOS Centre, Abertay University - United Kingdom
Quiquampoix Hervé - INRA - France

In recent years, research has shown that many microorganisms, viruses and proteins, potentially pathogenic to plant, animals or humans, have markedly different fate, behavior, and transport in different soils. Some of the physical, chemical, and physico-chemical processes responsible for this variability have been identified. However, many questions remain, and will need to be addressed to enable the control of important diseases, like neurodegenerative diseases, cryptosporidiosis, or the bubonic plague, especially under changing environmental conditions. In this context, the objective of the workshop is to bring together scientists of different horizons that present and discuss the state of our understanding of which soil characteristics determine the activity of specific types of pathogens. Physical, chemical, physico-chemical  parameters can affect the fate, behavior and transport of pathogens directly or, indirectly, through effects on other interacting microorganisms. Historical aspects can also  provide  a background.A book is in preparation as an attempt to be a useful resource not only for soil scientists but also for plant pathologists, veterinarians and human health specialists. 

S11.14.

Title: Understanding mineral-organic-microbial interactions in soils and the consequences for biological and biochemical activity
Convener: Staunton Siobhan - INRA - France
Co-Convener: Violante Antonio - University of Napoli Federico II - Italy

Soil biological and biochemical processes cannot be understood without a consideration of their interaction with organo-mineral interfaces and on the physical and chemical conditions imposed by these interfaces.

• Bacterial adhesion modifies growth, competition and metabolism
• Catalytic activity of the enzymes that determine most biogeochemical processes in soil is modified by adsorption on soil surfaces
• Dynamics of soil organic matter depend on physical protection conferred by soil surfaces and the various changes in catalytic activity of relevant soil enzymes
• Toxicity of contaminants depends on their interaction with soil interfaces
• Biotic and abiotic processes occurring at soil interfaces determine the persistence of organic macromolecules, both xenobiotic and natural
• Organo-mineral interfaces contribute to the heterogeneity of soil chemical and physical conditions, including water content, pH, salt concentration and the concentration of macro and micro nutrients and contaminants

W11.1.

Title: Through eye of the needle: the soil microbial biomass concept from nutrient cycling to global warming - Dedicated to the memory of Professor David Jenkinson
Convener: De Nobili Maria - University of Udine - Italy
Co-Conveners: Benedetti Anna - CRA - Italy
Brookes Philip - Rothamsted Research - United Kingdom

The workshop topic is centered on the role of soil microorganisms in mediating key soil processes and addresses some major current issues, including the role of soil organic matter mineralization in climate change and the influence of management practices on the dynamics of carbon (C) in soil particularly with respect to the capability of soils to act as a sources/sinks of greenhouse gases. A precise knowledge of the possible effects that changes in soil organic matter mineralization rates can have on feedbacks mechanisms operating within the global carbon cycle are essential for future C sequestration estimates (Cox et al.,2000; Freibauer et al., 2004; Lal, 2004).The workshop will be dedicated to professor David Jenkinson FRS, who recently died this year, and means to acknowledge his great contribution to soil science by  reviewing current progress in the areas of research for which he laid the foundations.During his decades long and intense scientific activity, David Jenkinson developed many of the concepts that have become integral parts of our current understanding of soil functioning and made significant contributions to our knowledge of the processes driven by the soil microbial community, seen as a single functional entity.