Summary
This 2025 study reports an unexpectedly high level of microbiome homogenisation across urban greenspaces at continental scale, suggesting that urbanisation exerts a standardising effect on soil microbial communities independent of regional geography. The research indicates that soil microbes in cities become increasingly similar to one another across large spatial distances, potentially reducing microbial functional diversity and ecosystem service provision. As suggested by the title, this continental-scale pattern of microbial uniformity in urban soils contrasts with greater heterogeneity typically observed in natural or agricultural systems.
UK applicability
The findings are likely applicable to UK urban greenspaces, where similar urbanisation pressures, soil management practices, and environmental standardisation may drive microbiome homogenisation. This has implications for urban soil health policy and management strategies aimed at preserving or restoring microbial diversity in British cities and towns.
Key measures
Soil microbiome community composition; microbial α- and β-diversity; continental-scale homogenisation indices; taxonomic and functional microbial profiles across urban greenspaces
Outcomes reported
The study examined soil microbiome composition and diversity across urban greenspaces at continental scale, measuring the degree of microbial community homogenisation in cities.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.