Soil microbial community structure across various herbivore intensities

Herbivore-induced changes to above- and belowground structure can alter C inputs to the soil which can substantially influence microbial biomass and diversity (Vermeire et al., 2021). Moreover, anthropogenic activity has dramatically modified natural herbivore regimes, resulting in an increase in woody plant cover, essentially changing the structure and function of African savannas (Venter et al., 2017; Venter et al., 2018). Given the importance of soil microbial communities in regulating several essential ecological processes and cycles (e.g. decomposition and nutrient cycling), effective management thereof is crucial (Bardgett et al., 1998; Wardle et al., 2004; Eldridge et al., 2019; Vermeire et al., 2021).