Description
We provide the first 100 m-resolution maps of bacterial and fungal taxa across Europe, derived from DNA data collected at over 800 sites in the European Union and the United Kingdom as part of the LUCAS Soil Biodiversity module in 20181. Following the well-established framework of Species Distribution Modelling (SDM), we use soil, climatic, Earth Observation-derived vegetation and land-surface descriptors and DEM-derived terrain predictors to develop predictive maps of soil microbial diversity across Europe, including bacterial and fungal richness and diversity, and the relative abundance of key taxa2.
Predictive ensemble models were used for mapping (combining predictions from four base models: linear, partial least squares, Cubist, and Gaussian process [RBF kernel] regression) across four predictor-set approaches: (i) an approach using variables for climate, vegetation, topography, soil properties (named as “all rasters”), (ii) using climate, vegetation, topography (“proximal”), (iii) using EO-derived vegetation and land-surface descriptors and DEM-derived terrain predictors (vegetation, topography – “remote sensing”) and (iv) solely relying on soil properties (“only soil properties”). The predictor-set approach with the highest out-of-sample predictive accuracy was the ‘all rasters’ approach.
By providing 100 m-resolution maps of key soil microbes, we aim to advance understanding of biodiversity patterns across Europe and, within ongoing regulatory initiatives, support discussions on (i) biological indicators for soil health and (ii) soil life conservation. Mapping bacterial and fungal taxa holds strong promise for establishing soil organisms as bioindicators and identifying biodiversity hotspots. These maps move soil status description forward, by capturing biological alongside physical and chemical condition. They may serve as valuable tools for environmental monitoring, helping identify critical stages and thresholds for ecosystem management.
Data are available for the following soil biodiversity metrics:
- Bacterial richness
- Bacterial Shannon index
- Phylum Acidobacteriota relative abundance
- Phylum Actinomycetota relative abundance
- Class Alphaproteobacteria relative abundance
- Fungal richness
- Fungal Shannon index
- Phylum relative abundance Ascomycota
- Phylum Basidiomycota relative abundance
- Phylum Glomeromycota relative abundance
Note that maps are provided for four investigated predictor-set approaches (‘all rasters’, ‘proximal’, ‘remote sensing’ and ‘only soil properties’).
Resolution: 100m; Format: GEOTIFF; projection information: ETRS89-extended / LAEA Europe - EPSG:3035
Geographical Coverage: European Union (EU-25 excluding Cyprus and Croatia) + United Kingdom
Input data: LUCAS 2018 biodiversity sample point data
Model: Ensemble modelling framework integrating linear, partial least squares, Cubist, and Gaussian process regressions ; and four predictor-set approaches investigated.
References:
- Orgiazzi, A. et al. LUCAS Soil Biodiversity and LUCAS Soil Pesticides, new tools for research and policy development. Eur. J. Soil Sci. (2022)
- Labouyrie, M. et al. Mapping the distribution of soil bacteria and fungi across Europe. XXX
