Soil Biology

Question 1

What types of organisms does the soil biota consist of?

Answer 1

1. Micro-organisms (Bacteria, Fungi and Algae)
2. Soil animals.
3. Plants/organic matter.

Question 2

What are 3 community characteristics of soil biota?

Answer 2

1. High diversity (variety)
2. High abundance (number)
3. High biomass (mass)

Question 3

Where are microorganisms located in soil?

Answer 3

Usually the topsoil close to dead organic matter.

Question 4

What are the 3 classifications of soil organisms?

Answer 4

1. Microflora/microfauna
2. Mesofauna
3. Macro and megafauna

Question 5

How is organism abundance inversely related to size?

Answer 5

The bigger the organism the fewer of them there are.

Question 6

What are some structures of a bacteria?

Answer 6

1. Peptidoglycan cell wall.
2. Shapes: Coccus, Bacillus and Spirillum.
3. Flagella and Pili

Question 7

What are the four functional groups of bacteria?

Answer 7

1. Decomposers
2. Mutualists
3. Lithotrophs
4. Pathogens