title: The microbial loop concept as used in terrestrial soil ecology studies.
abstract: Components and processes in the aquatic microbial loop are compared with the composition and functioning of the soil microbial loop. Relative to their bacterial and/or fungal food sources, many of the soil water-film fauna (e.g., protozoa, nematodes) are conspicuous by low biomasses and high turnover rates of carbon and mineral nutrients. Comparisons with production and turnover rates of aerial (pore-inhabiting) fauna are made, and the highly patchy nature of soil microhabitats is shown to be similar to that of aquatic (marine) habitats.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology, 711 Biological Sciences Building, University of Georgia, 30602-2602, Athens, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Coleman