Front cover -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Table of contents -- Preface to the Second Edition -- Preface to the First Edition -- 1 Historical Overview of Soils and the Fitness of the Soil Environment -- The Historical Background of Soil Ecology -- Water as a Constituent of Soil -- Elemental Constitution of Soil -- How Soils Are Formed -- Profile Development -- Soil Texture -- Clay Mineral Structure -- Soil Structure -- Soils as Suppliers of Ecosystem Services -- Summary -- 2 Primary Production Processes in Soils: Roots and Rhizosphere Associates -- Introduction -- The Primary Production Process -- Methods of Sampling -- Destructive Techniques -- The Harvest Method -- Isotope-Dilution Method -- Root-Ingrowth Technique -- Nondestructive Techniques -- Additional Sources of Primary Production -- Symbiotic Associates of Roots -- Mycorrhizal Structure and Function -- Ecosystem-Level Consequences of ECM Function -- Actinorhiza -- Carbon Allocation in the Root/Rhizosphere -- Carbon Allocation Costs of Development and Maintenance of Symbiotic Associations with Roots -- Future Directions for Research on Roots and Mycorrhizal Function and Biodiversity -- Summary -- 3 Secondary Production: Activities of Heterotrophic Organisms-Microbes -- Introduction -- Compounds Being Decomposed -- Microbial Activities in Relation to Catabolism in Soil Systems -- Microbial Abundance and Distribution in Soil -- Techniques for Measuring Microbial Communities -- Direct Measures of Numbers and Biomass -- Indirect Measures of Biomass -- Chemical Methods -- The Chloroform Fumigation and Incubation (CFI) Technique -- The Chloroform Fumigation and Extraction (CFE) Technique -- Physiological Methods: SIR Technique -- Additional Physiological Methods of Measuring Microbial Activity -- Enzyme Assays and Measures of Biological Activities in Soils.

Direct Methods of Determining Soil Microbial Activity -- Soil Sterilization and Partial Sterilization Techniques -- Conceptual Models of Microbes in Soil Systems -- Root-Rhizosphere Microbe Models and Experiments -- Soil Aggregation Models -- Models: Organism and Process-Oriented -- Summary -- 4 Secondary Production: Activities of Heterotrophic Organisms-The Soil Fauna -- Introduction -- The Microfauna -- Methods for Extracting and Counting Protozoa -- Distribution of Protozoa in Soil Profiles -- Impacts of Protozoa on Ecosystem Function -- The Mesofauna -- Rotifera -- Features of Body Plan and General Ecology -- Nematoda -- Nematode Feeding Habits -- Nematode Zones of Activity in Soil -- Nematode Extraction Techniques -- Tardigrada -- Microarthropods -- Collembola -- Families of Collembola -- Population Growth and Reproduction -- Collembolan Feeding Habits -- Collembolan Impacts on Soil Ecosystems -- Acari (Mites) -- Oribatid Mites -- Abundance and Diversity of Oribatid Mites -- Population Growth -- Oribatid Feeding Habits -- Oribatid Impacts on Soil Ecosystems -- Prostigmatic Mites -- Mesostigmatic Mites -- Astigmatic Mites -- Other Microarthropods -- Protura -- Diplura -- Microcoryphia -- Pseudoscorpionida -- Symphyla -- Pauropoda -- Enchytraeidae -- The Macrofauna -- Macroarthropods -- Importance of the Macroarthropods -- Isopoda -- Diplopoda -- Chilopoda -- Scorpionida -- Araneae -- Opiliones -- Solifugae -- Uropygi -- The Pterygote Insects -- Coleoptera -- Hymenoptera -- Diptera -- Isoptera -- Other Pterygota -- Gastropoda -- Sampling Techniques for Gastropods -- Oligochaeta-Earthworms -- Earthworm Distribution and Abundance -- Biology and Ecology -- Influence on Soil Processes -- Earthworm Management -- Earthworm Sampling and Identification -- General Attributes of Fauna in Soil Systems.

Faunal Feedbacks on Microbial Community Composition and Diversity -- Summary -- 5 Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling -- Introduction -- Integrating Variables -- Resource Quality, Climate, and Litter Breakdown -- Dynamics of Litter Breakdown -- Direct Measurement of Litter Breakdown -- Patterns of Mass Loss During Decomposition -- Effects of Fauna on Litter Breakdown Rates -- Nutrient Movement During Decomposition -- Nutrient Cycling Links in Soil Systems -- Role of Soil Fauna in Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Turnover -- Faunal Impacts in Applied Ecology-Agroecosystems -- Applied Ecology in Forested Ecosystems -- Summary -- 6 Soil Food Webs: Detritivory and Microbivory in Soils -- Introduction -- Physiological Ecology of Soil Organisms -- Energy Available for Detrital Food Chains and Webs -- Arenas of Interest -- A Hierarchical Approach to Organisms in Soils -- Future Research Prospects -- Summary -- 7 Soil Biodiversity and Linkages to Soil Processes -- Introduction -- Biodiversity in Soils and Its Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystem Function -- Heterogeneity of Carbon Substrates and Effects on Soil Biodiversity -- Impacts of Species Richness on Ecosystem Function -- Models, Microcosms, and Soil Biodiversity -- Experimental Additions and Deletions in Soil Biodiversity Studies -- Problems of Concern in Soil Biodiversity Studies -- Why Is Soil Diversity So High? -- Biogeographical Trends in Diversity of Soil Organisms -- 8 Future Developments in Soil Ecology -- Introduction -- Roles of Soils in Carbon Sequestration -- Roles of Soils in the Global Carbon Cycle -- Problems in Modeling Soil Carbon Dynamics -- Biological Interactions in Soils and Global Change -- Ecology of Invasive Species in Soil Systems: An Increasing Problem in Soil Ecology -- Soils and "Gaia": Possible Mechanisms for Evolution of "the Fitness of the Soil Environment?".

Soil Ecology in the Third Millennium -- 9 Laboratory and Field Exercises in Soil Ecology -- Introduction -- Minirhizotron Studies -- Principle -- Description of a Minirhizotron -- Installation of the Minirhizotrons -- Observation and Recording -- Getting Data from the Videotape -- Tracing Technique -- Automated Root Length Measures -- Soil Respiration Studies -- Principle -- Materials and Supplies Needed -- Procedure -- Calculations -- Litter Decomposition Studies -- Principle -- Litterbag Construction -- Calculations -- Analyses for Soil Microbial Biomass -- The Chloroform-Fumigation K2SO4-Extraction Method -- Principle -- Preparation and Handling of Potassium Sulfate -- Sample Preparation -- Potassium Sulfate Extractions -- Chloroform Fumigation -- Chloroform Removal -- Calculations -- Sampling and Enumeration of Nematodes -- Principle -- Sampling Considerations -- Sampling Tools and Precautions -- Nematode Extraction: Baermann Funnel Method -- Principle -- Materials and Supplies Needed -- Procedure -- Killing and Fixing Nematodes with Hot and Cold Formalin (5%) -- Materials and Supplies Needed -- Procedure -- Sampling and Enumeration of Microarthropods -- Principle -- Methods for the Study of Microarthropods -- Sampling -- Extraction of Microarthropods from Samples -- Sample Sorting and Identification -- Sampling and Enumeration of Macroarthropods -- Principle -- Methods for Sampling Macroarthropods -- Sampling -- Berlese or Tullgren Extraction -- Flotation -- Emergence Traps -- Pitfall Trapping -- Sampling and Enumeration of Earthworms -- Principle -- Collection of Earthworms -- Passive Techniques -- Behavioral Techniques -- Indirect Techniques -- Identification of Earthworms -- Sampling and Enumeration of Enchytraeids -- Principle -- Collection of Enchytraeids -- Identification of Enchytraeids -- References -- Index.