Urban ecosystems, although highly altered by humans, host diverse
microbiomes that support vital ecosystem processes. While microbial
ecologists are beginning to understand the drivers of microbial assembly
and the link between community structure and function in many
ecosystems, few of these advances have been applied to urban ecosystems.
In this synthesis, we review research on the urban soil microbiome and
develop a framework to integrate soil microbial communities with urban
ecosystem function. We identify disturbance, altered resources, and
heterogeneity as key drivers through which urbanization affects soils
and soil microorganisms. Steep environmental gradients in many urban
systems present a unique opportunity to address fundamental questions in
microbial ecology, such as how microbes respond to stress and how
biogeochemical rates relate to microbial diversity and composition.
Answering such questions will help develop practical and equitable
strategies for managing ecosystem benefits in cities where billions of
people live.