Soil organisms such as worms, fungi and bacteria drive decomposition and nutrient availability.
Soil is a living system with bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and earthworms. Organic matter improves structure and water holding. Soil profiles have horizons O, A, B and C.
Soil formation takes hundreds of years per centimetre. Erosion and compaction reduce fertility. Soil carbon storage is crucial in climate.
Example: earthworms mix organic matter and form aggregates.
Soil organisms such as worms, fungi and bacteria drive decomposition and nutrient availability.
Soil Ecology is one of the 54 topics in Marine & Environmental Biology. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Biological Pump, Permafrost and Methane, Deforestation.
A gram of soil can hold billions of bacteria.
Work through the Beginner topics in Marine & Environmental Biology first, such as Oceans, Ocean Zones, Plankton, then return to Soil Ecology. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Soil Ecology are Biological Pump, Permafrost and Methane, Deforestation, Climate Feedback Loops. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Soil Ecology. To practise the whole of Marine & Environmental Biology, use the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz.
Soil Ecology: Soil organisms such as worms, fungi and bacteria drive decomposition and nutrient availability. Biological Pump: Sinking organic matter transports carbon from surface waters to the deep ocean. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Biological Pump and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Sinking organic matter transports carbon from surface waters to the deep ocean.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyThawing frozen soils release methane and carbon dioxide, accelerating warming.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyClearing forests destroys habitats, releases carbon and disrupts water cycles.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyProcesses such as melting ice reducing reflectivity amplify or dampen warming.
🌊 Marine & Environmental Biology