OVERVIEW.  Research in the Peralta Lab examines how land use change influences microbial community structure and function under dynamic environmental conditions. Land use history can influence ecosystem functions, and the strength and outcome of these legacy effects may be variable due to the persistence of microorganisms and environmental changes from previous land use. We use a combination of molecular- and culture-based approaches to characterize microbial communities and field- and lab-based methods to assess microbial structure-function relationships. Our research informs how microbial functions can be managed to enhance water quality, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and crop production. We use interdisciplinary approaches to study microorganisms in coupled social-ecological systems.