Zoogenic structure aggregation in steppe and forest soils

Soil macrofauna are ecosystem engineers. They create soil structure. In the steppe zone, differences in soil macrofauna, the intensity of their activity and particular effects of individual invertebrate communities may be observed within different facets of the landscape. In Calcic chernozem, under herbaceous vegetation and forest plantations, the casts of various animals that feed on decaying organic matter are an important component of the structure of A horizons, and the droppings of insect larvae are prominent. In Luvic chernozem, Luvic chernic phaeozem and Pantofluvic fluvisol under native forest, worm casts are the predominant component of the soil structure. The ecology of macrofaunal communities is correlated with soil morphology and can be applied to reconstruct possible mechanisms of soil genesis