Publisher's Synopsis
This volume contains papers presented at a British Ecological Society meeting which brought together eminent researchers on all aspects of the soil biota, from the roots through the various microbial groups to the soil fauna. The aim was to link together all these studies so that, for example, researchers working on decomposition could talk to those interested in root production or in grazing interactions, and to discuss interactions of a higher order such as those in which producer, grazer and predator interact in the soil environment. The 33 chapters in the book are arranged in a progression from studies on roots alone, to root-microbial, animal-microbial and finally to more complex interactions. The book serves to highlight several areas where little information was previously available or where, excitingly, the data is now beginning to appear.
