Soil+microbiology

=Soil Microbiology = Healthy soils contain numerous populations of organisms from microorganisms to other organisms to large burrowing animals that are essential for many of our biogeochemical cycles as well as for plant growth. The abundance of life that exists within our soils exceeds that of any other ecosystem. Aside from these obvious benefits, it is thought that soils hold a potential reserve of organisms that can provide antibiotics and other medically important functions. The most prolific species found in soils are bacteria, which are most abundant around the roots of plants. Through the process of bacteria decomposing organic materials, nutrients that would be bound up in the soil are made available for plant, animal and human nourishment. Fungi are another important recycler of nutrients, in addition to protecting plants by consuming insects and organisms that prey on plants. While common in ponds and streams, algae are also common in soils, contributing to soil building and making it possible for plant growth. Many algae also fix nitrogen. Together, fungi and algae form lichens which are able to be productive while inhabiting harsher environments, even those with scarce water and nutrients. Lichens can also serve as indicators of environmental quality due to their ability to absorb trace inorganic and organic materials, regardless of toxicity. Larger soil organisms include a wide variety of worms and arthropods, including nematodes and earthworms, which play a role in maintaining soil quality while also recycling nutrients. Nematodes are one of the world's most prolific species as predators to control the bacterial population as well as the number of protozoa and other organisms. Earthworms help to shape soil quality by loosening and aerating the soil while consuming plant and organic matter and converting it to humus. Earthworm "castings," the product of their digestion, are rich and less acidic than the surrounding soil, containing additional source nutrients of calcium, nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Burrowing animals, such as mice, squirrels, rabbits and badgers, live part of the time in the soil as protection from predators or extreme weather. As predators themselves, they help control insect and arthropod populations within the soil. Their digging fertilizes and aerates the soil by mixing various subsurface materials. This also provides for an easier infiltration of water into the soil. In addition to mixing oxygen, their burrowing helps to bury carbon as well as seeds that can establish new plant growth.   The Dirt on Dirt The U.S. Bureau of Land Management provides an overview of soil as an ecosystem, along with brief explanations of how bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and other members of soil-based biological communities live within different soils.

FOR THE CLASSROOM
 Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems: Soil and Ecosystems This guide for teachers and students by the University of Illinois Extension, includes an activity focusing on soil compaction and composition and its effect on water filtration, plant growth, and seed germination.  DiscoverySchool.com: The Dirt on Soil This website includes information and pictures of many soil creatures, including amoeba, bacteria, beetle mites, moles, nemotodes, night crawlers, and root fungi.  Microbe Zoo: Dirtland Part of Michigan State University's Digital Learning Center for Microbial Ecology, this illustrated website for kids demonstrates the unique characteristics of soil microbes using topics kids can relate to such as vampire bacteria and the microbes that live in your carpet. []