Invertebrates in Soil 2 Macrofauna Moles worms ants

Invertebrates in Soil

2 Macrofauna Moles, worms, ants, pill bugs, centipedes, millipedes, beetles There can be 10. 6 million worms per acre of fertile farmland Roots grown more easily down worm tunnels Water can infiltrate down worm tunnels

3 Macrofauna - Earthworms Role in food chain and ecosystem for earthworms Create macropores Redistribute organic matter within soil profile Make organic matter accessible to microbes Produce nutrient rich casts Improve aeration and moisture conditions Mineralize nutrient from organic matter

4 Macrofauna – Earthworm Middens

5 Mesofauna Tiny, between 6 and 0. 1 mm Collembola (springtails), mites Break down decaying matter Eat fungi, algae, and dead plant matter Shred plant tissue

6 Microfauna - Protozoa Really tiny – between 0. 1 mm and 0. 005 mm think Protozoa – release nutrients for plants to use Protozoa can eat bacteria Protozoa – amoebae, ciliates, flagellates Eat bacteria and release nitrogen to plants

7 Microfauna - Protozoa Habitat characteristics for protozoa Aerobic only Need water Forest, compost, garden/field, prairie, aerated portions of marsh or wetland Role in food chain and ecosystem for protozoa Predators of bacteria and fungi Decomposers

8 Microfauna - Nematodes Really tiny: between 0. 1 mm and 0. 005 mm think Nematodes – can transmit soil-borne viruses Nematodes can eat 5, 000 bacteria per minute Larger nematodes prey on smaller ones

9 Microfauna - Nematodes Habitat characteristics for nematodes Aerobic only Tolerant of acidic soil Forest, compost, garden/field, prairie, aerated portions of marsh or wetland Role in food chain and ecosystem for protozoa Parasites of plants and soil microbes Predators

10 Microfauna - Nematodes Important in predator/prey relationships and population management Fungal feeders, bacteria feeders, root feeders Most are non-pathogenic. Some are (soybeans) Nematicides and other pesticides can kill populations