Signal transduction in edaphic ecosystems governs sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability of natural and agro ecosystems is governed mainly by soil processes. In these, contributions of the biotic or living constituents are much important. The biotic part is represented by soil food web. Here, I argue that the sustainability of the ecosystems is an outcome of chemical signaling in the food web. Then, I show that it is the microbes living mainly endophytically and in the soil, including fauna, which contribute to ecosystem balance through signaling in complex network interactions. Sustenance of edaphic or soil ecosystems collapses when the signaling is retarded due to human impact and global change. This issue can only be addressed by manipulating soil microbes. I introduce a new term edaphic ecosystem signal transduction (EST), which can summarize the concept explained in this article.