ABSTRACT

Soil invertebrates make up diverse communities living in soil pores and on the soil surface, digging burrows and tunnels, processing organic matter and interacting with microbes. Soil is also a habitat of growing concern as many human activities cause soil degradation. This book documents the evolutionary history of soil invertebrates and their multitude of adaptations. Soil invertebrates live in a twilight zone: some have gone down to seek stability, constancy and rest, others have gone up and faced environmental variation, heat, cold and activity. And it all happens in a few decimetres, millimetres sometimes. Check out the wonderful life below ground in this book.

chapter Chapter 1|35 pages

The Selective Environment of the Soil

chapter Chapter 2|52 pages

Evolution of Terrestrialized Invertebrate Lineages

chapter Chapter 3|51 pages

Populations in Space and Time

chapter Chapter 4|40 pages

Reproduction and Development

chapter Chapter 5|44 pages

Mate Choice, Brood Care and Predatory Behaviour

chapter Chapter 7|7 pages

A Kaleidoscope of Adaptations

chapter Chapter 8|15 pages

Annexes