Soil Biota, the Direct Connection to Soil.

One of the most important aspects of soil, are the organisms within. They breakdown organic matter, supply nutrients to plants and other organisms. Nutrient loses are also prevented by being stored in the organisms. Soil organisms maintain good soil structure. As you can see, many soil characteristics are determined from soil biota.

Some of the most abundant organisms found in our soil, litter, and compost samples were of the Acarina order. These are the soil mites. They are considered predacious, feeding on other invertebrates along with plants and fungi.

Photo courtesy of Ray Norton, www.fcps.edu.

Of the second most abundant order are the Collembola or springtails. Springtails feed on fungi, and dead plant tissues. Springtails can also be predacious, feeding on other smaller invertebrates.

Photo courtesy of Drees, insects.tamu.edu.

As each of the different types of organic matter had a wide variety of organisms in each sample, some of the other common orders are Araneida (spiders). All spiders are predators.

Photo courtesy of soilbugs.massey.ac.nz.

Coleoptera (beetles). Beetles feed on fungi or are predators of other small arthropods.

Photo courtesy of eppserver.ag.utk.edu.

 Diplura (japygids). Japygids are predators.

Photo courtesy of soilbugs.massey.ac.nz.

Pauropoda (pauropods).  Pauropods feed on fungal hyphae and well-decayed plant tissue.

Photo courtesy of Tom Murray, bugguide.net.

Of the less common orders found are Chilopoda (centipedes). On centipedes, the first pair of legs is modified into hollow, piercing fangs that are used to inject digestive enzymes into their prey.

Photo courtesy of Cryptops sp, soilbugs.massey.ac.nz.

Diplopoda (millipedes). On Millipedes feed almost exclusively on dead plant tissue however, some are predators.

Photo courtesy of colocalders.com.

Pseudoscorpiones. Pseudoscorpiones feed on tiny arthropods.

Photo courtesy of Tom Murray, bugguide.net.

Annelida (ringed and earthworms), earthworms are responsible for aerating and enriching soils.

Photo courtesy of jiaekingdomanimalia.wikispaces.com.

Nematoda (round worms), many are parasitic and some are predators of soil nematodes. Isopoda (isopods).

Photo courtesy of www.shadesofgreensa.com.