Soil viral diversity, ecology and climate change

Soil viruses are highly abundant and have important roles in the regulation of host dynamics and soil ecology. Climate change is resulting in unprecedented changes to soil ecosystems and the life forms that reside there, including viruses. In this Review, we explore our current understanding of soil viral diversity and ecology, and we discuss how climate change (such as extended and extreme drought events or more flooding and altered precipitation patterns) is influencing soil viruses. Finally, we provide our perspective on future research needs to better understand how climate change will impact soil viral ecology. Soil viruses are highly abundant and have important roles in the regulation of host dynamics and soil ecology. In this Review, Jansson and Wu explore our current understanding of soil viral diversity and ecology, and how climate change (such as extended and extreme drought events or more flooding and altered precipitation patterns) is influencing soil viruses.