Climate change in the underworld : impacts for soil-dwelling invertebrates

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and associated changes in climate are undoubtedly impacting communities and ecosystem functioning. Despite the importance of soil ecosystem services, little is known on how these changes will affect soil-dwelling communities. In this chapter, we review and discuss the impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 and climatic changes on three of the functionally most important invertebrate taxa in soil ecosystems: nematodes, insects, and earthworms. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations are mostly impacting these three groups indirectly (e.g., plant-mediated mechanisms), whereas climatic changes (elevated temperature and altered precipitation) are both directly and indirectly affecting soil invertebrates. Earthworms are mainly positively affected by elevated atmospheric CO2 and climate change; these effects are however mostly indirect and more subtle than those observed in the other two taxa discussed. Chemical ecology underpins biotic interactions belowground. Plant secondary metabolites patterns and their diffusion in soil are influenced by climate change; therefore belowground chemical interactions are likely to be influenced too. Soils are at high risk and better comprehending the effect of the rapid changes occurring will help to protect these highly complex ecosystems.