The Soil Biodiversity and Monitoring (SBM) Lab: Research topic, methods and funded projects
At the forefront of the European Commission and global policy agenda is Soil Health, which is 'the continued ability of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that supports plants, animals and humans' (NRCS, 2017). At EU level, around 60-70% of soils are unhealthy, mainly due to unsustainable agricultural practices. Human-induced soil degradation is a threat to food production and the provision of ecosystem services. In this context, the Soil Biodiversity and Monitoring (SBM) Lab investigates how ecological interactions between soil organisms [i.e. microarthropods (QBS-ar Index), earthworms (QBS-e Index)] and their physico-chemical environment affect critical ecosystem processes that underpin agricultural productivity and Soil Health. Recent research activities relate to the study of the structure and functional importance of the crop-associated soil microbiome using environmental DNA (eDNA). A special focus is on protists and their role as bio-regulators of other soil microbial communities (i.e., bacteria and fungi), particularly in promoting crop performance and productivity. SBM activities also relate to the valorisation of organic waste into biofertilisers and the analysis of their effects on Soil Health.
Keywords - ENGLISH
Biomonitoring, Ecotoxicology, Agroecosystem, Soil mesofauna and macrofauna, Soil microbiome, Soil Health.
Active participants in the research line (PI last author or *)
Martina Coletta (Research Fellow), Marco Monticelli (PhD Candidate), Natasha Waris (PhD Candidate), Aurora Torresi (Fellow) and Antonietta La Terza* (Head).
External Collaborations
University College Dublin (IE); Swansea University (UK); Zoological Survey of India; University of Göttingen (DE); Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology (CH)
Pillar
Environmental Sustainability
Macroareas in Environmental Sustainability
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
Relevant research grants (national/international) funding specifically this Research Line
2020-2024. PSR 2014-2020 Marche. S.F.I.D.A: Smart Farming: to innovate the Environment with drones. (Role: PI); 2021-2024. MUR. Research and Innovation 2015-2017. Soil and legumes of the Sibillini for high quality pasta (Role: Co-PI); 2022-2025. EU ERA-NETs - SUSFOOD2 Call 2021. Unlocking the potential of microalgae for the valorisation of brewery waste products into omega-3 rich animal feed and fertilisers (AlgaeBrew). (Role: WP5 Leader); 2022-2025. PSR Marche 2014/2020 Misura 16.1: Project: Acorn: a resource of landscape and food tradition of the Marche region to be rediscovered and valorized. (BioAcornScape) (Role: Co-PI); 2022-2025. PSR Marche 2023/2027. Misura 16.1: Project: Strip cropping and other agroecological cultivation models for organic diversified vegetable productions that respect Soil Health. (OrtoBioStrip).(Role:PI)
Email Address
antonietta.laterza@unicam.it
Link to Relevant Publications