The importance of the biodiversity of soil biota in arid ecosystems

Knowledge about the functional roles of soil biota in arid ecosystems is reviewed and used to understand the influences on biodiversity. Abiotic factors, such as recent weather conditions, influence the activity of soil biota in arid ecosystems. Soil biota play an important role in decomposition and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodiversity and conservation 1996, Vol.5 (2), p.185-195
Main Author: Whitford, Walter G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arthropoda
Nematoda
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Knowledge about the functional roles of soil biota in arid ecosystems is reviewed and used to understand the influences on biodiversity. Abiotic factors, such as recent weather conditions, influence the activity of soil biota in arid ecosystems. Soil biota play an important role in decomposition and mineralization. The temporal succession of microarthropod and nematode species through the decomposition process is discussed. Tydeid mites are a keystone species in the early decomposition stage. The structure of soil microarthropod assemblages is similar in different arid regions of the world. Faunal abundance and diversity are directly related to the amount of accumulated litter and organic matter. Variability in soil pore neck size, water potential, temperature, and other soil properties affect the spatial diversity of soil biota. Faunal life histories and behavior likewise influence the spatial distribution of soil water and nutrients.
ISSN:0960-3115
1572-9710
DOI:10.1007/BF00055829