What is a rhizosphere? Where is the rhizosphere located? How does bare (bulk) soil differ from rhizosphere soil? By what means does a plant influence rhizosphere conditions? What adaptive benefits may the rhizosphere provide for a plant? How do microbiomes differ in more or less beneficial rhizospheres? Rhizosphere ecology represents an application of ecology at the community level. Interspecific interactions are a primary subject of interest to community ecologists. In what ways do rhizosphere species interact? What are some examples of competitive, exploitative, and mutualistic interactions that occur in the rhizosphere?