"Ciliated protists as indicators of soil health: Three case studies from Italy" in FAO. 2021. Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity. Global symposium on soil biodiversity, 19–22 April 2021 – Outcome document. Rome, Italy

This report aims to provide an overview of the outcomes and the challenges encountered in using ciliated protists as indicator of soil health in the framework of several projects conducted in Italy since 2009. Ciliates in spite of the key roles they play in the microbial loop, still constitute a neglected component of the biodiversity, which is rarely included in biomonitoring plans. In this scenario, the report highlights the potential of ciliates as bioindicators of soil health (in natural, industrial and agro- ecosystems) to evaluate the potential impact of soil disturbance such as those produced by different farming practices (organic vs. conventional) and contaminants. Overall, the results of our surveys conducted in the frame of three distinct projects (BioPrint, Ciliates in Organic Vineyards & Soil mapping Lombardia) confirmed the bioindicative potential of soil ciliate communities in discriminating different agricultural management systems, land uses and in detecting different levels of soil pollution.