Influence of Environmental Factors on the Microdistribution of Soil Acarina in a Hardwood Forest

Abstract

The study of the ecology of the soil cannot be pursued with any specificity unless the land area and animal inhabitants are very limited. A vast number of biotopes exist; each being unique in the animal and plant populations it supports. The soil is a definite biotope where many organisms are found to have their habitat. Much confusion relates to the concepts biotope, habitat, and niche. These terms are used in the sense that Udvardy (1959) delimits them. All studies carried out in this area indicate that the soil varies considerably as do the populations it supports.