Conclusion
We propose a new conceptual framework for urban microbial ecology that
will help focus research questions and advance knowledge about urban
microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. By identifying key
drivers, we provide a path forward to link human actions with changes in
the soil microbiome. Feedback loops connect microbes back to human
society through the provisioning of environmental goods and harms, which
brings attention to microbial consequences for human wellbeing. We argue
that microbial ecologists and biogeochemists should take advantage of
urban ecosystems for future study. Not only do microbial communities
represent convenient systems for fundamental research on urban
biogeochemistry, microbiomes could also play a role in creating
healthier and more sustainable cities. Overall, urban ecosystems deserve
more attention from microbial ecologists, and urban ecology would
benefit from a greater focus on microbes.