Project description DEENESFRITPL Understanding soil organic matter with complex systems science The role of microbial turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) is central in the Earth’s carbon (C) cycle. However, its fundamental mechanism is not entirely understood. The EU-funded SomSOM project will investigate from the perspective of complex systems science. According to the complex systems theory, interactions between individuals at the micro level can lead to ‘self-organisation’ at the macro level. The system acquires new qualities that do not derive from the characteristics of the interacting individuals. However, if microbial decomposer systems are self-organised, they may present different behaviour than that expected under changing environmental circumstances. The project will investigate if the microbial decomposition of organic matter is conducted by self-organisation and what impact this has on soil C and nitrogen cycling. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Microbial turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) is key for the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle. Its underlying mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. The role of soil microbes for organic matter turnover has so far been studied mainly from the point of view of microbial physiology, stoichiometry or community composition. I propose to shed new light on it from the perspective of complex systems science.Microbial decomposition of organic matter requires the concerted action of functionally different microbes interacting with each other in a spatially structured environment. From complex systems theory, it is known that interactions among individuals at the microscale can lead to an ‘emergent’ system behavior, or ‘self-organisation’, at the macroscale, which adds a new quality to the system that cannot be derived from the traits of the interacting agents. Importantly, if microbial decomposer systems are self-organised, they may behave in a different way as currently assumed, especially under changing environmental conditions.The aim of this project is thus to investigate i) if microbial decomposition of organic matter is driven by emergent behaviour, and ii) what consequences this has for soil C and nitrogen cycling. Combining state-of-the-art methods from soil biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and complex systems science I will• Investigate mechanisms of spatial self-organization of microbial decomposer communities by linking microscale observations from experimental microcosms to mathematical, individual-based modelling, • Elucidate microbial interaction networks across the soil’s microarchitecture by linking microbial community composition, process rates and chemical composition of spatially explicit soil micro-units at an unprecedented small and pertinent scale. • Explore fundamental patterns of self-organisation by applying the framework of complex systems science to high-resolution spatial and temporal data of soil microstructure and process rates. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrybiogeochemistry Keywords Soil soil organic matter turnover terrestrial carbon cycle self-organisation emergent properties complex systems microbial interaction networks Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAT WIEN Net EU contribution € 1 896 129,00 Address UNIVERSITATSRING 1 1010 Wien Austria See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 896 129,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAT WIEN Austria Net EU contribution € 1 896 129,00 Address UNIVERSITATSRING 1 1010 Wien See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 896 129,00
