Healthy soil is the fundament for all life in terrestrial habitats. It provides the nutrients and water for plant growth and the plants form the food basis for heterotrophic organisms, such as fungi, animals, and many microorganisms. This chapter gives an overview of the various organismal groups that live in soils and focuses on invertebrates. Many soil invertebrates can easily be collected and observed without optical aids. Furthermore, they can be assigned to higher taxonomic ranks, such as annelids (earth worms), isopods (woodlice), arachnids (spiders and their relatives), hexapods (insects and the like), or myriapods (centipedes and millipedes) with simple identification tables based on the number of the animals’ legs. Even young learners can identify different groups of soil invertebrates in this way and thus gain insights into the diversity of life in the ground on which they walk. Older students can use identification apps or scientific literature to figure out species identity. It is important that students of all ages learn about the ecological network built by soil organisms and their importance in the formation of fertile soil. This knowledge can lead to a “soil consciousness” that can change people’s attitudes and behaviors and ultimately contribute to the transformation to a sustainable society.

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Biodiversity of Soil Invertebrates

  • Stefan Jarau

摘要

Healthy soil is the fundament for all life in terrestrial habitats. It provides the nutrients and water for plant growth and the plants form the food basis for heterotrophic organisms, such as fungi, animals, and many microorganisms. This chapter gives an overview of the various organismal groups that live in soils and focuses on invertebrates. Many soil invertebrates can easily be collected and observed without optical aids. Furthermore, they can be assigned to higher taxonomic ranks, such as annelids (earth worms), isopods (woodlice), arachnids (spiders and their relatives), hexapods (insects and the like), or myriapods (centipedes and millipedes) with simple identification tables based on the number of the animals’ legs. Even young learners can identify different groups of soil invertebrates in this way and thus gain insights into the diversity of life in the ground on which they walk. Older students can use identification apps or scientific literature to figure out species identity. It is important that students of all ages learn about the ecological network built by soil organisms and their importance in the formation of fertile soil. This knowledge can lead to a “soil consciousness” that can change people’s attitudes and behaviors and ultimately contribute to the transformation to a sustainable society.