Soil Science

Macrofauna

Soil macro fauna are large enough to burrow and create their own soil pores. In doing so they mix soil and bury plant and animal residues, hastening their decomposition. In contrast, soil mesofauna are too small to burrow, and are dependent on pre-existing pores. Numerically, soil macro fauna are far fewer than soil mesofauna.

Typical numbers of soil organisms in our grazed pasture.

SOIL MACROFAUNANumbers/sq m
Earthworms74
Scarab larvae47
Millipedes226
Ants108
SOIL MESOFAUNANumbers/sq m
Springtails24,500
Mites20'600
Nematodes270,000

Examples of soil macrofauna - From left to right. Scarab larva, earthworm, beetle larva, millipede.

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