The real underground.Below our feet and out of sight lies a dynamic, diverse and abundant biological community. Yvonne Baskin follows pioneer scientists uncovering the world of soil ecology Soil ecology The study of the interactions among soil organisms, and between biotic and abiotic aspects of the soil environment. Soil is made up of a multitude of physical, chemical, and biological entities, with many interactions occurring among them. in Under Ground: How Creatures of Mud and Dirt Shape Our World (Island Press, $26.95). The wonders of nature and cutting-edge science are elegantly communicated in this engaging book. Baskin journeys to exotic Antarctica to study the life beneath a seemingly barren landscape and to the more familiar English coast English coast may refer to:
English Coast to learn about the role of bottom-dwelling organisms in the ocean ecosystem. She finds that these soil creatures provide essential functions for our Earth from building healthy soils to nutrient cycling and water purification  It has been suggested that , , and be merged into this article or section. . Unfortunately, soil life is increasingly
threatened by such human activities as forest clear cutting,
over-fishing and the spread of invasive species
Invasive species is a phrase with many definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species (e.g. . |
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