Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 4.2
Some of the soil macrofauna
is lower and it happens that it is even by orders of magnitude less than that of
protozoa (Fig.
4.2
).
Macrofauna
are known for their formation and use of new pores in soils in addi-
tion to utilizing existing soil pores. These pores enhance two phenomena - soil
drainage and the penetration of atmospheric air into soils - that improve all soil
oxidation processes. While forming such pores, macrofauna play an important role
in remixing mineral soil particles with organic compounds that originated partly as
the result of the decomposition of dead bodies and partly as the product of vital
activity of macrofauna organisms.
Among this group of macrofauna, worms and especially
earthworms
play a
dominant role. Today, it is common knowledge that Charles Darwin was the
