Journal article

Publication year: 1991

Pages: 389-402

Journal: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science

Volume number: 154

Issue number: 6

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19911540602

Publisher: Wiley-VCH Verlag

Abstract: 

This paper intends to stimulate discussion between zoologists and soil
scientists by presenting some central problems of descriptive and
functional soil zoology. These problems are related to a. the cryptic
life of soil biota, b. their specific adaptations to the soil habitat,
c. the different spatio‐temporal scales at which invertebrates affect
soil processes, d. the extremely different ways invertebrate effects in
soil can be quantified and e. the close interrelationships between all
components of the soil subsystem. A short outline is given of the
different functional groups and trophic systems which have been used as
tools for estimating the impact of soil invertebrates on soil, higher
plants and edaphon. The difficulty of differentiating between direct and
indirect effects is discussed. Especially in the context of soil
structural research, many of the investigations have focussed on the
direct contribution of the macrofauna to structure formation, while
indirect effects of the meso and microfauna on structure stabilization
have largely been ignored. In conclusion some special fields are
proposed for intensive cooperation between soil scientists and soil
zoologists in the future.

Harvard Citation style: Wolters, V. (1991) Soil invertebrates - effects on nutrient turnover and soil structure - a review, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, 154(6), pp. 389-402. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19911540602

APA Citation style: Wolters, V. (1991). Soil invertebrates - effects on nutrient turnover and soil structure - a review. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde. 154(6), 389-402. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19911540602