Ecological context
A system, not a backdrop
A guide to the landscape, its changes and ways to care for it. This profile covers a broad habitat type; local data need site-specific research.
Habitat guide
How it works
Environmental conditions
Moisture, aeration, acidity and organic matter vary with soil type and management.
Distribution and scope
It underlies many terrestrial settings; its biota differs among forests, meadows and cities.
Structure
Horizons, aggregates, pores, roots and leaf litter create connected microhabitats.
Ecological processes
Fungi, bacteria and invertebrates contribute to decomposition, nutrient cycling and soil formation.
Habitat guide
Change and care
Seasonal changes
Moisture and temperature change root, fungal, microbial and invertebrate activity through the year. Litter inputs vary with vegetation.
Threats
Sealing, compaction, erosion, pollution and unsuitable management reduce pore space and soil life. Effects depend on land use.
Conservation
Maintain plant cover, organic matter and soil structure and limit compaction and contaminants. Tailor restoration to soil and climate.
Responsible observation
Observe litter, small invertebrates and infiltration without digging. If sampling is permitted, return material and do not transfer soil.
Linked species are documented examples for a specific area. The list is not complete, and the absence of a species does not prove that it is not present.
Evidence base
Sources for this profile
References for checking the processes and pressures described. Regional sources do not make this overview a local inventory.
- 01
- 02Status of the World’s Soil Resources Food and Agriculture Organization