Soil Science

Mesofauna

Although soil microbes are the main means by which nutrients are released in plant-available forms, their role is influenced and often enhanced by larger soil organisms, the soil mesofauna and macrofauna.

Soil mesofauna include a range of small invertebrates such as springtails (Collembola) and mites (Acari), and worms like nematodes.

Watch this video to see a close-up of a springtail.

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Some springtails have a long spring at the end of the abdomen which they use to escape from predators.

Watch this video to see how a springtail influences nutrient cycling.

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A close-up of springtail feces. Springtails eat mainly fungi and thus also ingest plant material. Their feces contain fragmented plant matter and fungi, and spores. Fragmentation increases the surface area of the material, making it more accessible to microbes. Microbial propagules (spores) are distributed throughout the soil and litter by invertebrates.

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