There are a myriad of tiny living organisms present in the soil. Most of these are not visible to the naked eye. Some of them can be seen. And all of them are a part of the soil’s ecosystem.
The underground ecosystem can be divided into:
Macrofauna
These include slightly larger organisms. Examples can be earthworms and termites.
Mesofauna
These include medium sized organisms. They feed on other soil micro organisms. They may also consume dead and decaying organic matter. Examples include nematodes and springtails.
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Microfauna
These include very small organisms. They can be bacteria, fungi, protozoa and others.
An interesting take
It would be interesting to note that plant roots are also a part of the soil biodiversity. A lot of plant roots exist in symbiotic relationships with fungi. They can thus be considered a part of the ecosystem.
Why is it important?
A rich soil biodiversity is important because:
- Nutrient cycling
- Essential for plant growth
- Improve water entry
- Help store moisture
- Erosion resistant
- Blocks pests and diseases
- Carbon storage
