Soil Fauna Assemblages
Global to Local Scales

A holistic overview of soil fauna, their contributions to ecosystem function, and implications of global change belowground.

Uffe N. Nielsen (Author)

9781107191488, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 March 2019

378 pages, 52 b/w illus. 2 tables
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.73 kg

'The synthesis provided by this book highlights not only the need for future large-scale studies of soil fauna, but also the notion that we cannot ignore their role in ecosystem restoration and succession. Their potential use in restoration practices is undervalued because changing soil fauna assemblages inherently changes food web dynamics and therefore energy flow, nutrient dynamics, and carbon storage. The volume ends by noting how this information can be harnessed to manage the future of soil fauna assemblages that, ultimately, we rely on for human well-being.' Becky A. Ball, The Quarterly Review of Biology

This volume provides a modern introduction to the soil fauna and their contributions to ecosystem function, the mechanisms that structure soil fauna assemblages from local to global scales, and the potential impacts of global change on soil fauna assemblages and through this ecosystem function. Wanting to be an accessible primer, this book is a high level overview of current knowledge rather than a detailed tome of all existing information, with emphasis being placed on key findings and general patterns. It focuses on the soil fauna but contextualizes these assemblages in relation to the microbial assemblages belowground and the vegetation aboveground. It is clear that our knowledge of soil fauna assemblages is ever increasing, but there is still a lot to discover. Key areas of research are highlighted, with particular reference to the future of soil fauna assemblages.

1. Soil and its fauna
2. Functional roles of soil fauna
3. Approaches to studying soil fauna and their functional roles
4. Soil fauna biogeography and macroecology
5. Soil fauna assemblages at fine scales to landscapes
6. Anthropogenic impacts on soil fauna assemblages
7. Climate change impacts on soil fauna
8. Soil fauna assemblage succession and restoration
9. The future of soil fauna assemblages.

Subject Areas: Sustainable agriculture [TVF], Agricultural science [TVB], Environmental management [RNF], Applied ecology [RNC], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB], Plant ecology [PSTS]