Soil ecologySoil ecology

By Kacey TanaBy Kacey Tana

Rock layersRock layers Ground layer: plants grow and animals live here. A thick cover of plants can Ground layer: plants grow and animals live here. A thick cover of plants can

keep the soil cool and from dying out.keep the soil cool and from dying out.

Topsoil: plants grow and animals live on the top of the soil. It is sometimes Topsoil: plants grow and animals live on the top of the soil. It is sometimes called the organic layer.called the organic layer.

Subsoil: it is a mix of mineral particles and some humus near the top.Subsoil: it is a mix of mineral particles and some humus near the top.

Weathered plant material: no organic material down here. Out of reach of Weathered plant material: no organic material down here. Out of reach of dead and alive organisms. All rock material.dead and alive organisms. All rock material.

Bedrock: entirely made of solid rock. It waits on the bottom until erosion or Bedrock: entirely made of solid rock. It waits on the bottom until erosion or an earthquake exposes it to the surface.an earthquake exposes it to the surface.

organismsorganisms

Scientists work hard to find and identify soil wildlife. The smallest Scientists work hard to find and identify soil wildlife. The smallest organisms are probably the most important to soil. organisms are probably the most important to soil.

Each one of these organisms have thousands of cousins related to them.Each one of these organisms have thousands of cousins related to them.

These organisms include amoeba, bacteria, beetle mite, eastern mole, These organisms include amoeba, bacteria, beetle mite, eastern mole, nemotode, night crawler, and rock fungus.nemotode, night crawler, and rock fungus.

ScientistsScientists

• People who are evolved in soil ecology

• Dr. Patricia a. Hagan

• Mr. William mc. Donald

• Mr. Dale Fulton

Soil safariSoil safari A toxic spill can easily go into the ground and make its way to an underground A toxic spill can easily go into the ground and make its way to an underground

water system that can kill all organic life on the surface.water system that can kill all organic life on the surface.

Recipe for soilRecipe for soil First, select a large quantity of bedrock. You can start with a fresh First, select a large quantity of bedrock. You can start with a fresh

lava flow, a solid granite dome, or some limestone.lava flow, a solid granite dome, or some limestone. Physical weathering: Next, break some of the parent material into Physical weathering: Next, break some of the parent material into

pieces. Use a glacier to grind off big boulders and fine sediment.pieces. Use a glacier to grind off big boulders and fine sediment.

Chemical weathering: Now change some of the parent material Chemical weathering: Now change some of the parent material and the mineral particles into other kinds of minerals. Run water and the mineral particles into other kinds of minerals. Run water over limestone to dissolve the limestone and make the water more over limestone to dissolve the limestone and make the water more

acidic.acidic. Biological actions: Finally, start with some early colonizers like Biological actions: Finally, start with some early colonizers like

lichens. Then throw in a stock made of microscopic decomposers.lichens. Then throw in a stock made of microscopic decomposers.