Below are some introductions to local soil life in South-East England, and occasionally further afield. Meet more soil life here.
Microarthropods
The shredders of the soil food web, increase the surface of plant matter, others feed on fungi and/or nematodes. They are vital for the decomposition and nutrient cycling. And most intriguing to look at.
Protozoa
= major nutrient cyclers, making nitrogen available to plants when metabolising bacteria. Our amoeba and flagella are highly oxygen dependent, whereas ciliates are more tolerant of anaerobic conditions. It’s normal and important for soil to have different ecological niches – lower oxygen conditions for example can be found inside of soil aggregates.
Nematodes
Some eat bacteria, protozoa, algea and/or other nematodes and make nutrients available to plants. Others eat fungi.
Yet others feed on plant roots, and those are the ones we don’t really want to see in our samples.
Soil Food Web Student 