Abstract
In terms of species richness, arthropods may represent as much as 85% of the soil fauna. They comprise a large proportion of the meso- and macrofauna of the soil. Within the litter/soil system, five groups are chiefly represented: Isopoda, Myriapoda, Insecta, Acari, and Collembola, the latter two being by far the most abundant and diverse. Arthropods function on two of the three broad levels of organization of the soil food web: they are plant litter transformers or ecosystem engineers. Litter transformers fragment, or comminute, and humidify ingested plant debris, which is deposited in feces for further decomposition by micro-organisms, and foster the growth and dispersal of microbial populations. Large quantities of annual litter input may be processed (e.g., up to 60% by termites). The comminuted plant matter in feces presents an increased surface area to attack by micro-organisms, which, through the process of mineralization, convert its organic nutrients into simpler, inorganic compounds available to plants. Ecosystem engineers alter soil structure, mineral and organic matter composition, and hydrology. The burrowing by arthropods, particularly the subterranean network of tunnels and galleries that comprise termite and ant nests, improves soil porosity to provide adequate aeration and water-holding capacity below ground, facilitate root penetration, and prevent surface crusting and erosion of topsoil. Also, the movement of particles from lower horizons to the surface by ants and termites aids in mixing the organic and mineral fractions of the soil. The feces of arthropods are the basis for the formation of soil aggregates and humus, which physically stabilize the soil and increase its capacity to store nutrients.
Highlights
Soils originate and accumulate in a sequence of events that mark the stages of ecological succession, the development of biotic communities
The process culminates in a steady state, in which the accumulation of organic matter is balanced by its decomposition to close or nearly close nutrient cycles [5,6]
Given the large volume of research that has been published, this review necessarily is limited in scope, and will be restricted to a survey of the principal roles played by arthropods in the processes that maintain soil fertility
Summary
Soils originate and accumulate in a sequence of events that mark the stages of ecological succession, the development of biotic communities. Soil formation begins with physical weathering of the rocky parent material, creating cracks and fissures, and fractionating it into finer particulate matter. Pioneer organisms, such as lichens, mosses, and liverworts, subsequently colonize the substrate, further breaking down the rock and incorporating detritus and organic compounds formed through photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation [2,3]. In the process, they stabilize and moderate the micro-environment, creating conditions favorable for later colonizers, eventually resulting in the establishment of higher plants and invertebrate animals. Given the large volume of research that has been published, this review necessarily is limited in scope, and will be restricted to a survey of the principal roles played by arthropods in the processes that maintain soil fertility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
