How Multiple Factors of Global Change Affect Soil

Scientists at Freie Universität Berlin study effects of multiple global change factors / Findings published in latest issue of "Science". No 343/2019 from Nov 14, 2019 A team of ecologists at Freie Universität Berlin studied soil and how it was affected by multiple factors of global change. The team led by Matthias Rillig conducted laboratory experiments that examined the effects of up to ten factors of global change by randomly adding an increasing number of such factors. Results on soil functions and biodiversity responded consistently when an increasing number of factors were added, irrespective of what the factors were. The findings provide a rare glimpse into what might happen under global change when considering a wide range of factors simultaneously. There were also some ecological "surprises," and it was quite difficult to accurately predict the effects when many factors were involved. The study highlights the urgent need to focus on multifactor studies.