Soil Biota

Reading Assignment Soil Microbiology: An exploratory Approach

Chapter 4, 5, 6

The Macrofauna
Examples Ants, Earthworm etc. Classified by 1. Size 2. Movement 3. Time spent in soil or habitat 4. What they eat

The Macrofauna

Based on what they eat

- 1. Biophagous

Carnivores

Herbivores
Microvores

Omnivores

The Macrofauna

2. Saprophagous Detritivores Cadaveriocoles Copraphagous

The Macrofauna

Earthworms: Often constitutes the major portion of the invertebrate biomass in the soil. Active in processing litter and distributing organic matter throughout the soil. Activities result in the improvement of soil aeration , drainage, and structure.

The Macrofauna
Insects May be free-living, or may alternatively live they may feed on plant roots

The Macrofauna

Significance Agricultural importance of the macrofauna rests upon its contribution to soil fertility, soil structure, and plant disease. Important in leaf and litter decomposition Soil structure

The Mesofauna

Nematodes: The most numerous of all metazoa. Their numbers may reach several millions per square meter. Both parasitic and free-living groups are encountered. Free-living groups use organic debris, microorganisms and other substances as food.

Microfauna

Protozoa Predators of the other forms of microbes. Enumerated with plate method Important to microscopically examine Environmentally source of food is only concern.

Microfauna

No effect of soil pH, except effect of food source Reproduce usually by asexual means -binary fission Vast majority are saprophytes i.e. use soluble organic and inorganic substances or phagotrophic i.e. characterized by a direct feeding of microbial cells or particulate matter.

Microfauna

A few are autothrophic When edible prey cells are no longer avialable or the environment in some way is unfavourable, the active protozoan enters a cyst stage.

Mostly aerobic

Microfauna

Exhibit no marked sensitivity to pH. Opt pH 6-8. Prefers found cool damp environments Trpophozoite Cyst (resting) feeding

Feed a lot of rhizobia

Microfauna

Classification: Classified on basis of locomotion (4 categories) 1. Mastigophora 2. Sarcodina 3. Ciliphora 4. Sporozoa

Microfauna

a. Flagella Mastigophora most abundant in soil 5-20 um in length dominate the microfauna of terrestial habitats tolerant of low moisture

Microfauna

b. Cilia -Ciliata (ciliophora) Movement by action of vibrating hairs situated around the protozoan cell. abundant in areas with high moisture status

Microfauna

c. Pseudopoda-Sarcodina size range from 10 mm to 80 mm move by means of temporary protoplasmic extrusions from the cell body e.g Amoeba

Microfauna

Significance in Soil. 1. Serve to regulate soil bacterial population 2. May also function by allowing different competing bacteria to coexist in soil. 3. They may participate in the decomposition of plant materials. 4. Some are pathogenic e.g Entamoeba histolytica which cases amoebic dysentry

Viruses

These incluse nematodes, millipedes centipedes, mites, spiders, insects earthworms, flatworms etc. Viruses The are submicroscopic agents Consist of DNA or RNA molecules within protein coats. Viral particles are metabolically inert and do not carry out respiratory or bio-synthetic functions. They induce a living host cell to produce the necessary viral components After assembly, the replicated viruses escape from the cell with the capability of attacking new cells. Viruses infect all categories of animal and plants, from humans to microbes. Those parasitizing bacterial cells commonly are called bacteriophages, or simply phages Significance in Soil Little is known about the field ecology of viruses that infect soil organisms except that they persist in soil as domant units that retain parasitic activities. The ability of viral particles pathogenic to plants or animals to survive in soil and move into the water table is of major concern to people.