microfauna
Microscopic animal life
Microfauna refers to tiny animals, typically those invisible or barely visible to the naked eye.
The term usually designates microscopic organisms like protozoa, nematodes, and rotifers that live in soil, water, or sediment, playing crucial roles in ecosystems by breaking down organic matter and cycling nutrients.
In scientific contexts, microfauna may also refer to small fossils used to date geological formations.
Soil microfauna help maintain healthy growing conditions for plants.
Single-celled eukaryotic organisms
- nematodesCylindrical unsegmented worms
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- springtailsTiny jumping soil creatures
amoebae · flagellates · copepods · paramecium · euglena · volvox · microarthropods · zooplankton
Cylindrical unsegmented worms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- springtailsTiny jumping soil creatures
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
earthworms · decomposers · detritivores · humus · bioindicators · soil health · mineralization · burrowing
Drifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
- flagellatesWhips harshly, often ritually
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- benthicOf the sea bottom
plankton · freshwater · marine · sediment · detritus · filter feeders · larval stages · nauplii
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- predationHunting and consuming prey
detritivores · energy flow · ecological niche · bioindicators · keystone species · soil ecosystem · habitat · biodiversity
Technique using powerful lenses
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- extractionAct of removing
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
morphology · enumeration · soil analysis · classification · specimen · magnification · petri dish · culture
protozoa
Single-celled eukaryotic organisms
- nematodesCylindrical unsegmented worms
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
springtails · amoebae · flagellates · copepods · paramecium · euglena · volvox · microarthropods · zooplankton · water bears
nematodes
Cylindrical unsegmented worms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- springtailsTiny jumping soil creatures
tardigrades · earthworms · decomposers · detritivores · humus · bioindicators · soil health · mineralization · burrowing · organic matter
zooplankton
Drifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
- flagellatesWhips harshly, often ritually
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
benthic · plankton · freshwater · marine · sediment · detritus · filter feeders · larval stages · nauplii
food web
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- grazingFeeding on pasture
predation · detritivores · energy flow · ecological niche · bioindicators · keystone species · soil ecosystem · habitat · biodiversity
microscopy
Technique using powerful lenses
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- extractionAct of removing
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
taxonomy · morphology · enumeration · soil analysis · classification · specimen · magnification · petri dish · culture · observation
microfaunamegafauna
Species over 44 kilograms
macrofauna · megamammals · large mammals · whales · elephants
fauna, micro, microscopic, microbes, microorganism, megafauna, microclimate, microbiology, microhabitat