New study out on the profound impact of pesticides on soil microbiome composition.

"Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils"

Köninger et al., Nature 2026

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09991-z

#soil #microbiome #functionalbiodiversity

Here is my #Introduction for #ScienceMastodon

I am ecologist interested in soil biodiversity and global change.

We work on many factors of global change, including: #climatechange #microplastics #pollution

Our focal organisms are #fungi and we work on saprobic fungi as well as on fungi forming #mycorrhiza

#SoilEcology #environment #SoilBiodiversity #Berlin #microbiology #MicrobialEcology #soil #GlobalChange #ecology #EnvironmentalScience #pesticides #GlobalWarming #PlasticPollution

"The Swan River project transitioned land that was full of noxious weed into a thriving #forest – the #biodiversity increase is incredible, all the way from the different microbes and organisms in the #soil to the #birds in the air, and everything in between."

#rewilding #canada #projectforest

https://www.rewildingmag.com/rewilding-for-relationship-and-reconciliation/

Happy World Soil Day! In honour of the occasion, here’s a flashback to a speech I gave earlier this fall on the need for Canada to have a national soil health strategy. https://youtu.be/cwTJOKQcwW8 #WorldSoilDay #Soil #UnitedNations #cdnpoli #Canada #SenateofCanada

"The Swan River project transitioned land that was full of noxious weed into a thriving #forest – the #biodiversity increase is incredible, all the way from the different microbes and organisms in the #soil to the #birds in the air, and everything in between."

#rewilding #canada #projectforest

https://www.rewildingmag.com/rewilding-for-relationship-and-reconciliation/

Happy World Soil Day! In honour of the occasion, here’s a flashback to a speech I gave earlier this fall on the need for Canada to have a national soil health strategy. https://youtu.be/cwTJOKQcwW8 #WorldSoilDay #Soil #UnitedNations #cdnpoli #Canada #SenateofCanada

The cover art is finished for my new book and I LOVE IT!

This safari tour of the life in soil and what it means to us, is now available for pre-order as ebook, soft and hardcover in the UK and Commonwealth. Published in August next year (US date soon), I hope it'll entice everyone to fall in love with soil!

So far there will also be German, Polish and Japanese language versions too!

#Science #SciComm #Literature #Book #Soil #NatureBooks #SoiBiodiversity #Entomology

The cover art is finished for my new book and I LOVE IT!

This safari tour of the life in soil and what it means to us, is now available for pre-order as ebook, soft and hardcover in the UK and Commonwealth. Published in August next year (US date soon), I hope it'll entice everyone to fall in love with soil!

So far there will also be German, Polish and Japanese language versions too!

#Science #SciComm #Literature #Book #Soil #NatureBooks #SoiBiodiversity #Entomology

Yesterday we had earthworm cocoons, today I bring you springtail spermatophores!

Springtails, like many other soil invertebrates, reproduce by a male leaving these structures (a blob of sperm-rich fluid on a stalk), which the female will sniff out, collect and use to fertilise her eggs. Very romantic!

#SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Macrophotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Collembola #Soil

Powerful new #antibiotic that can kill #superbugs discovered in #soil #bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against #drugresistant #infections.
They discovered an intermediate compound — called premethylenomycin C lactone — whose #antimicrobial activity was 100 times stronger than that of the final product. Tiny doses killed strains of bacteria known to cause hard-to-treat infections.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03595-3

Powerful new #antibiotic that can kill #superbugs discovered in #soil #bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against #drugresistant #infections.
They discovered an intermediate compound — called premethylenomycin C lactone — whose #antimicrobial activity was 100 times stronger than that of the final product. Tiny doses killed strains of bacteria known to cause hard-to-treat infections.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03595-3

https://peertube601.pocketnet.app/w/6aks4Gw5uRgjKurK1dnFxS
Fabulous 23 year old permaculture food forest in Otago, New Zealand. #Agroecology #SoilHealth #Soil #Agriculture #Permaculture

https://urbanists.video/w/ooRXVstytxbD3NQo4nDn22 Food forests. Food for the soil, food for the soul. #Agroecology #SoilHealth #Soil #Agriculture #Permaculture

Another day in our #garden trying to put #new #plants in the #soil

Another day in our #garden trying to put #new #plants in the #soil