We connect basic science with practice and create evidence-based management guidelines to help maintain and restore soil biodiversity.
We are interested in patterns of soil biodiversity and its variation in natural and human-influenced systems. Our special focus is on fungi, including mycorrhizal fungi, but also bacteria, greenhouse gases and agricultural land-use.
NEWS
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A Thrilling Start to the New Academic Year for the Soil Ecology Working Group!
The new school year has kicked off with great energy and enthusiasm for the Soil Ecology Working Group! Alongside our ongoing research initiatives, we are proud to celebrate the academic progression of three of our dedicated team members at the University of Tartu. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see how […]
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New Phytologist Editor-in-Chief Symposium. Microbes as hidden or prominent players in plant life.
From July 8–10, 2025, more than 120 researchers gathered in Tartu for the symposium “Microbes as Hidden or Prominent Players in Plant Life.” Participants came from every continent, and their talks and posters explored the diverse ways in which microbes influence plants. Over the course of three days, the symposium highlighted New Phytologist’s scope as […]
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Successful graduations in the soil ecology team
The soil ecology working group had a successful academic year. Among other achievements, Roland and Jaak from our working group successfully defended their final theses and will continue their research in our working group. Roland Lehemets’ master’s thesis focused on the Impact of Regenerative Agriculture Practices on Soil Biodiversity and was supervised by Tanel Vahter, […]
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The soil ecology team participated in fifth ecology of soil microorganisms conference in Finland
The soil ecology team was strongly represented at the international conference Ecology of Soil Microorganisms 2025. Networking across scales held in Helsinki on 15.– 19. June 2025. The conference brought together nearly hundred researchers from all over the world. Prof Maarja Öpik gave an inspiring talk about biodiversity and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in […]
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Soil ecology team participated at the UT Spring Run
On 16 April 2025, the annual University of Tartu Spring Run took place. This time the soil ecology team was represented at the start – Ayesh, Miriam as runners, and Maarja, Eveli, Elis and Sirle as walkers – and all finished successfully despite the slightly wet weather. The course ran enjoyably along the banks of […]
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Tanel Vahter receives President’s Young Environmental Scientist Award
We are so pleased to announce that Tanel Vahter, a member of the Soil Ecology team, has been awarded the President’s Young Environmental Scientist Award. The President’s Award is in recognition of Tanel’s work, which has created a first-of-its-kind capability to apply DNA-based and biochemical methods to the monitoring of field soil condition, and has […]
Soil Ecology
Who lives in the soil? What is their role there? How do they interact with each other?
How do management and natural disturbances affect soil organisms?
These are questions that the Soil ecology workgroup at the University of Tartu is investigating.
Our special focus is on fungi, including mycorrhizal fungi, but also bacteria, greenhouse gases and agricultural land-use. We are interested in patterns of soil biodiversity and its variation in natural systems such as grasslands and forests, and in human-influenced systems such as arable fields and disturbed areas.
We connect basic science with practice and create evidence-based management guidelines to help maintain and restore soil biodiversity. The soil is alive and the soil biota within it is what keeps the soil, plants and entire ecosystems functioning.