Micro-habitat - Soil

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Micro-Habitats

Soil.

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Soil - a micro-habitat

Soil

Making Mud pies
Do you remember using soil to make mud pies?
Most people probably just think of soil as mud, sand, clay or loam. They perhaps remember it as the fun they had when little making mud pies!!!! Soil is actually much more complex than that – but non the less interesting for it!

Soil is made up of two main components:

  • An inorganic mineral component

  • An organic component

Inorganic Component

This mineral component of soil is made up of an arrangement of particles of varying sizes. Soil scientists divide soil particles, also know as soil separates into three main size groups:

  • Sand

    • Largest (2.00 - 0.05 mm)

  • Slit

    • Medium ( 0.05 – 0.002 mm)

  • Clay

    • Smallest ( < 0.002 mm)

Depending upon the rock materials from which they are derived, these assorted mineral particles ultimately release the chemical on which plants depend for survival, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, iron and manganese.

Organic material

Organic material constitutes the second vital part to soil – without it plants would not be able to grow. This organic matter is usually dark coloured and referred to as humus.

Even a small area of soil holds a universe of living things – ranging from fairly large to microscopic ( Indeed a teaspoon full of soil is said to contain as many bacteria as there are humans on the planet!) Organic material is also composed of dead and decaying matter including dead plant materials such as leaves and roots as well as dead animal materials and animal droppings. These all become part of a cycle of decomposition and decay which provides important nutrients to the soil. Soil fertility generally depends on a high content of organic materials.

What animals live in soil?

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What lives in soil?

 

Living Organisms in soil

As well as forming part of the organic materials in soil when they die and decompose living organism are also important when they are alive for as well as being responsible for decomposition of dead materials they also perform other important functions such as aerating and mixing of soil. Living creatures in soil include: earthworms, mites, millipedes, centipedes, grubs, termites, lice, springtails and more plus bacteria and fungi too small to be seen.

 

 

National Curriculum Reference

Teachers Notes / Key Points

Of course these videos are no substitute for live specimens whenever this is safe and possible, but they do allow you to provide images of specimens when this is not possible for whatever reason. Even if the specimens are provided the videos will allow to make your point with images all the class can see without having to crowd around a small creature.

They are great for spur of the moment teaching points when your lesson goes of with an unexpected question!!! SO it would pay to keep coming back and checking what videos are available and try to store it away for when they will help with that 'difficult' question!!!

National Curriculum

Not really relevant here - is covered in specific lessons

Curriculum Opportunities

This provides the following Curriculum Opportunities in the new program of study:

C) Use real-life examples as a basis for finding out about science

D) Study science in local, national and global contexts, and appreciate the
connections between these

E) Experience science outside the school environment, including in the
workplace, where possible

 

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