microfauna

image of a soybean cyst nematode and its egg Microfauna ( ) are microscopic animals and organisms that exhibit animal-like qualities and have body sizes that are usually <0.1 mm. Microfauna are represented in the animal kingdom (e.g. nematodes, small arthropods) and some other heterotrophic, microscopic eukaryotes. A large amount of microfauna are soil microfauna which includes eukaryotic microbes, rotifers, and nematodes. These types of animal-like eukaryotic microbes and true animals are heterotrophic, largely feeding on bacteria. However, some microfauna can consume other things, making them detritivores, fungivores, or even predators.

image of a soybean cyst nematode and its egg Microfauna ( ) are microscopic animals and organisms that exhibit animal-like qualities and have body sizes that are usually 7 (~10 million) individuals per g −1 (0.1 g, or 1/10th of a gram) and are very common in plant litter, surface soils, and water films. Many microfauna, such as nematodes, inhabit soil habitats. Plant parasitic nematodes inhabit the roots of various plants, while free-living nematodes live in soil water films. Microfauna also inhabit freshwater ecosystems. For example, freshwater microfauna in Australia include rotifers, ostracods, copepods, and cladocerans. Rotifers are filter feeders that are usually found in fresh water and water films. They consume a variety of things including bacteria, algae, plant cells and organic material. Tardigrades inhabit a variety of lichens and mosses. They need water in these areas to allow for gas exchange and to prevent them from desiccating. Because of this they are considered aquatic. However, they have also been found in all types of environments, ranging from the deep sea to dunes. ==Phyla== Examples of notable phyla that include some microfauna: Microscopic arthropoda: Dermatophagoides ("Dust mites") Tetranychidae ("Spider mites") Some Crustacea ("Crustaceans") Copepoda ("Copepods") Cladocera ("Water fleas") Ostracoda ("Seed shrimp") Tardigrada ("Water bears" or "moss piglets") Rotifera ("Wheel animals") Nematoda ("Roundworms") Loricifera, these are recently discovered anaerobic species, which spend their entire lives in an anoxic environment. ==See also== Fauna Megafauna Mesofauna ==References== ==External links== The role of soil microfauna in Plant disease suppression. University of California

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