The structure and basis of soil microbial biodiversity

Soil bacteria underpin the health of the soil biosphere and mediate critical ecosystem services. This thesis addresses gaps in our understanding on which drivers underpin their distributions, what processes support their energy requirements and how these processes vary across ecosystems. Key findings show that the spatial structure of soil bacteria is stronger than previously reported. Microbial communities harbour diverse metabolic capabilities and the most dominant taxa in these environments have the flexibility to use organic carbon and atmospheric trace gases to meet energy and carbon needs. This work presents an advance in our understanding of soil microbial biodiversity and function.