The World Beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil
Grade 8 Up-An examination of more than 100 kinds of subterranean organisms. The first section describes in detail how soil is formed; the various types; and the symbiotic relationships between plants and, respectively, lichens, algae, bacteria, and fungi. Another chapter profiles soil microbes, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Entries describe the distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics of organisms; where they are found; and their diets, feeding methods, and roles in the ecosystem. Sidebars provide common names, scientific classification, ecological function, and more. Featured are such exotics as rotifers and tardigrades, as well as the more familiar nematodes, earthworms, dung beetles, snails, toads, and moles. "The Gift of Good Earth" discusses how problems such as soil erosion and acidity are exacerbated by conventional farming practices and suggests ways to improve conditions. The tightly organized text is clearly written, but a bit dry. The amount of detail is often staggering. One or two illustrations accompany the text on almost every page; they include meticulous pen-and-ink drawings, snapshot-sized color and black-and-white photos, plus a variety of diagrams. Students will need some background in both biology and chemistry to handle the material in this book. About three dozen of the same arthropods are included in the excellent Insects and Spiders of the World (Marshall Cavendish, 2002), but the entries do not have the same emphasis on soil ecology. Nardi's in-depth title will be a valuable reference for agricultural students and serious naturalists.Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.