Università Roma Tre

1. General Introduction to the soil ecosystem. Definition of the soil and its functions. Factors and pedogenetic processes. Profile and composition of the soil. Physical and chemical characteristics. Cycles of nutrients in the soil. Organic matter decomposition and mineralization. Case study of the dead wood.
2. Edaphic biodiversity. Micro, meso and macro-ecological networks at ground level. Viruses and soil microorganisms and their interaction with the soil fauna. Microflora and vegetation. Soil fauna: main adaptations to life in the soil. Functional groups and food webs. Edaphic zoocoenoses present in different types of terrestrial ecosystems and their interactions with other biological forms.
3. Main soil fauna groups: Protozoa, Rotifera, Platyhelminthes, Nematodes, Tardigrades, Molluscs, Annelids, Arthropods, Cordata. Morphological, functional, physiological, behavioral and ecological adaptations to life in the soil.

Menta C., 2008. Guida alla conoscenza della biologia e dell'ecologia del suolo. A. Perdisa Editore
Parisi V., 1974. Biologia e ecologia del suolo. Boringhieri, Torino.


Office Hours: every day of the week by appointment by email (andrea.digiulio@uniroma3.it)

4. Methods for studying soil fauna. Sampling methods. Extraction. Identification with use of dichotomous or interactive keys. Methods and tools for morphological, genetic and functional analyses.
5. Use of soil biodiversity in environmental monitoring. Biological and ecotoxicological indices. Bioremediation and environmental recovery. Management and protection of soil fauna. Applications of soil fauna in agriculture and natural resource management.
6. The course also includes practical lessons in the laboratory and in the field. During these classes, observations on the diversity of soil fauna in natural ecosystems will be conducted, illustrating methods of sampling and identification.

Menta C., 2008. Guida alla conoscenza della biologia e dell'ecologia del suolo. A. Perdisa Editore
Parisi V., 1974. Biologia e ecologia del suolo. Boringhieri, Torino.


Office Hours: every day of the week by appointment by email (andrea.digiulio@uniroma3.it)