Primary Convener:
Emma Aronson, University of California Riverside

Convener:
Stephen Hart, University of California Merced
Jerald Ibal, Idaho State University

Early Career Convener:
Micah Unruh, University of Kansas

Chair:
Emma Aronson, University of California Riverside
Stephen Hart, University of California Merced
Sharon Billings, University of Kansas

The critical zone (CZ) extends from the top of the vegetation canopy down to the circulating groundwater, through a range of habitats occupied by environmental and host-associated microorganisms. This paradigm encourages integrative research across disciplines towards understanding and predicting processes that support life. Microorganisms are found in different environments, including the whole range of the critical zone, from deep subsurface rock fissures to the epiphytes and endophytes of leaves of tall trees. From a microbial perspective, even a seemingly homogeneous forest or grassland contains a wide range of microhabitats, providing a multitude of different ecological niches supporting an astounding degree of microbial diversity. Microorganisms play a range of vital roles in the critical zone, including catalyzing decomposition, nutrient cycles, and mineral weathering. This cross-disciplinary session invites presentations across the range of ecosystem types and research approaches on the diversity patterns, composition, and function of microorganisms in the critical zone.

Index Terms
0410 Biodiversity
0414 Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
0448 Geomicrobiology
1402 - Critical Zone

Cross-Listed:
NS - Near Surface Geophysics
H - Hydrology
EP - Earth and Planetary Surface Processes
GC - Global Environmental Change

Suggested Itineraries:
Global Impacts‚ Solutions‚ & Policies

Neighborhoods:
3. Earth Covering