Ecology of Soil Decomposition

Decomposition recycles dead tissues into nutrients in the soil. In light of recent advances in the field, this new edition of a classic text describes trophic interactions between species that carry out the decomposition of organic matter and interactions with the mineral soil. Key topics addressed include spatial stratification, succession patterns over time and biogeochemistry. Featuring new material on soil remediation, the emphasis is placed on the role of species in functional groups.

1. The Saprotrophs

2. The Habitat

3. Sampling and Enumeration

4. Reconstructing the Soil Food Web

5. Spatial and Temporal Patterns

6. Integrating the Food Web

7. Soil Remediation