This special issue of Biogeochemistry contains a collection of 12 original papers from BIOGEOMON, the 7th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behavior, held at Point Lookout, Maine on 15–20 July 2012. Over 200 participants from 25 countries attended the meeting, which included 122 contributed presentations, 6 plenary talks, and 14 plenary theme talks. Previous meetings of the BIOGEOMON series had been held in Prague (1987, 1993), Villanova (1997), Reading (2004), Santa Cruz (2006), and Helsinki (2009).

BIOGEOMON’s emphasis is on ecosystem biogeochemistry, including research at the watershed, ecosystem, landscape and global scales. In addition to traditionally emphasized themes, the Maine meeting included sessions dedicated to ecosystem management and ecosystem services, bio-energy production and its impacts on forested ecosystems, the role of extreme events in ecosystem biogeochemistry, and the role of biogeochemistry in ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation. Papers published in this special issue of Biogeochemistry examine the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, base cations, mercury and other metals in forests, peatlands, streams, lakes.

BIOGEOMON 2012 was hosted by the University of Maine, with support from Villanova University (USA), the Czech Geological Survey, the Finnish Forest Research Institute, and the National Science Foundation. The success of BIOGEOMON 2012 derived from the dedication and tireless efforts of Stephen Norton, Ivan Fernandez, Tiffany Wilson (University of Maine) and Kimberli Scott (Villanova University).

In keeping with the tradition of alternating BIOGEOMON venues between Europe and North America, BIOGEOMON 2014 will be held in Bayreuth, Germany on 13–17 July 2014, hosted by the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research. Drs. Egbert Matzner, Gerhard Gebauer, and Stefan Peiffer are heading the local organizing committee. We hope you will join us in Bayreuth in 2014!

Dale Johnson, University of Nevada, Reno

Melanie Vile, Villanova University

Kel Wieder, Villanova University