2.2 (Soil Biology)

DEcaying plant/animal material * “Detritus Shields Soil!”: Protects soil from extreme weather * Reduces water evaporation rate Think: Decomposers Fungi, bacteria, and worms live here!

Where earthworms/plant roots burrow (drilling tunnels!) * Distributes nutrients * Increases water infiltration * Where water and nutrients are stored

The “lungs” of the soil * Regulates water, air, and nutrient flow * Increases biodiversity * Water and nutrients are stored

Rhizosphere as a Garden Party! Where Protein & Sugar-Feeding Bacteria live (the party hosts) - Example of mutualism - Bacteria receive food and shelter (like food given by hosts at a party) - Bacteria Benefits Roots! (Bacteria receives usable nitrogen) (like how party hosts and guests benefit from interacting with each other) The rhizosphere is located directly around the roots of plants.

• Maintain the durability of soil • Many aggregates are the fecal pellets (waste material) of worms and other invertebrates • Holds the soil together (like play doh!)