Aiding coastal wetland restoration via the belowground soil microbiome: an overview

The United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration was announced in 2021 to highlight the need for collective efforts to revive degraded ecosystems. Plant above- and belowground microbiomes are fundamental to plant health and ecosystem functioning. Plant aboveground microbiomes have received considerably more attention than the belowground microbiome, especially in the context of coastal plant restoration. Thus, there is fundamental gap in our understanding of the role belowground microbiomes play in restoration success in saltmarsh and mangrove ecosystems. Here, we outline potential pathways and challenges associated with including the belowground microbiome in mangrove and saltmarsh restoration via a conceptual framework and an overview of current literature. We highlight the large gap of knowledge that exists in plant–microbe literature as it pertains to coastal restoration warranting future research. More research is needed to significantly advance both fundamental and applied knowledge through better understanding of the importance of coastal microbiomes to restoration success by stakeholders and funding bodies.