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Soil Biodiversity - Coggle Diagram
Soil Biodiversity
What nutrient cycles are at work?
Water Cycle
Soil and the water cycle are deeply intertwined as water needs to enter groundwater and if a soil is composed too highly of clay, that's not possible.
Carbon Cycle
SOM and breaking down of decaying plants and animals are a huge part of the carbon cycle that occur within soil.
There are other nutrient cycles involving soil, but I'm focusing on water and carbon as they are most important in relation to soil
What is soil biodiversity
Soil diversity revolves around the living organisms within soil and how they interact with the environment they're in
Soil is very biologically diverse and has a very complex food chain & system among the microorganisms living within it.
What are the inputs to soil?
SOM (soil organic matter)
Composed of living (microorganisms), recently dead (fresh residues), or very dead (humus) aspects
Carbon from decaying plants and animals
What abiotic and biotic factors contribute to soil?
Biotic
Bacteria -- highest number per gram of soil
Fungi -- highest biomass per gram of soil, smaller population numbers
Algae -- small biomass
Protozoa -- small number per gram of soil (hardy, can tolerate harsher soil conditions)
Abiotic
minerals
water
See water cycle section of map
air
Silt (smallest), sand (next smallest), clay (largest)
dead plant and animal matter
pH
Soils that are more basic in pH decompose SOM (soil organic matter) easier than acidic soils
Climate
Microbial populations are heavily influenced by temperature. They double with every 10 degree change in temperature (F)
How does the environment affect soil quality?
Higher oxygen allows the SOM to get oxygenated, making it easier for bacteria and other microbes to break it down.
Higher temperatures and humidity allow for higher populations of microorganisms which allows the SOM to be broken down more quickly and productively
What threats are there to soil biodiversity?
Soil erosion, compaction, water-logging, and leeching of fertilizers into soil are all large threats to soil composition and the health of the microorganisms living in the soil.