ABSTRACT
Soils harbour an enormous diversity of microbes and fauna that play a major role in delivering ecosystem services. The massive diversity of soil life has given rise to studies on the importance of belowground biodiversity for ecosystem functioning. A factor that has been often overlooked is how soil life contributes to dynamics of natural vegetation, which can also be translated into ecosystem services. Soil life can also influence aboveground interactions between plants and pollinating insects. Currently, soil is often used for maximizing single ecosystem services, such as primary production. In order to obtain more services from the same piece of land, it will be essential to explore multi-functionality in ecosystem services. Soil-borne ecosystem services are crucial for supporting life on earth. Besides primary production, soil ecosystem services may also be considered for other effects, such as climate regulation, pest control, provision of novel antibiotics, and other services.
