Animals under logs and stones

Logs, stones, and other ground-surface debris provide a fascinating interface between the damp depths of the soil and the drier open ground surface, offering refuges for a diverse array of animals. This much-expanded and updated new edition includes extensive, easy-to-use, and comprehensively illustrated keys to unlock these worlds.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing

Logs, stones, and other debris serve as a fascinating interface between the damp depths of the soil and the drier open ground surface, providing refuges for a diverse array of animals. The communities of organisms that inhabit these underground habitats remain largely unnoticed and understudied, yet they hold immense potential for ecological research. While some of these animals may be relatively large and easily observed, others are more elusive and require careful observation. They exhibit a wide range of lifestyles, from slow-moving slugs and snails to lightning-fast centipedes, from generalist feeders to specialist carnivores, and from herbivores to omnivores.

This extensively revised and updated new edition of "Ground-surface Debris" encompasses a comprehensive range of topics. It includes chapters covering the cryptosphere environment, species groups, identification, guidelines, and ideas for further research. Additionally, the book features extensive, user-friendly, and extensively illustrated keys that make it an invaluable tool for unlocking these hidden worlds. Ground-surface debris can be found almost anywhere, often presenting highly accessible microhabitats for study. Exploring these environments can yield immediate rewards to the curious, providing insights into the unique biodiversity and ecological processes that thrive beneath the surface.

In conclusion, logs, stones, and other debris offer a unique window into the hidden realms of the soil and ground surface. By studying the communities of organisms that inhabit these debris-rich environments, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex web of life and the important role that these underground habitats play in shaping our planet. This much-expanded and updated new edition of "Ground-surface Debris" provides the necessary tools and information to unlock these fascinating worlds and explore the ecological wonders that lie beneath our feet.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784274177
Edition number: 2 Revised edition