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#soilfauna — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #soilfauna, aggregated by home.social.

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  1. This adorable little creature is one of New Zealand's endemic giant springtails, but it's not just ANY giant springtail...

    I first discovered this springtail population two years ago, living up in the few remaining patches of native forest in the Port Hills of Christchurch. This put them on the map - nobody had ever seen them near the city before, so it was a wonderful surprise to find them there!

    They appear a lot smaller than other members of their species that I've found elsewhere, making me wonder if they're undergoing a form of island dwarfism in the small, fragmented areas of bush. Maybe these ones aren't so 'giant' after all...

    #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet #SoilBiodiversity #Entomology #SoilFauna #Macrophotography

  2. Field work seems to be over for now in our #BEN_EAF outgoing mobility project in the #Cairngorms, #Scotland.

    We did sample soil for #eDNA #metabarcoding and collected our pitfall traps.

    It was a great and quite warm weather! 😎

    Next: do some invertebrate identification in the labs of the #JamesHuttonInstitute .

    #AlpSoil_Lab #Highlands #ScottishHighlands #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity #MountainSoilBiodiversity

  3. Field work seems to be over for now in our #BEN_EAF outgoing mobility project in the #Cairngorms, #Scotland.

    We did sample soil for #eDNA #metabarcoding and collected our pitfall traps.

    It was a great and quite warm weather! 😎

    Next: do some invertebrate identification in the labs of the #JamesHuttonInstitute .

    #AlpSoil_Lab #Highlands #ScottishHighlands #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity #MountainSoilBiodiversity

  4. A very pleasant find during my afternoon of flipping rocks. They may be Bilobella but the black eyes make me think otherwise. If you know what they are, please tell me.

    #Nature #Photography #Macro #Collembola #Springtail #SriLanka #SoilFauna #Soil

  5. A very pleasant find during my afternoon of flipping rocks. They may be Bilobella but the black eyes make me think otherwise. If you know what they are, please tell me.

    #Nature #Photography #Macro #Collembola #Springtail #SriLanka #SoilFauna #Soil

  6. Here we go: now pitfall traps are collecting critters on the ground at the #alpine plateau of Ben Avon, in the #CairngormsNationalPark in the Scottish #Highlands. 🕷️🪲🐛

    Four habitat types, three pitfall traps each: looking forward!
    Maybe we can find some new records of soil invertebrates? The chances are high, as alpine soil fauna studies are rare in the UK.

    Thanks to Andrea Britton and Debbie Fielding from #jameshuttonInstitute for helping do field work! ✌️

    #BEN_EAF #AlpSoil_Lab #MountainSoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #Scotland

  7. Here we go: now pitfall traps are collecting critters on the ground at the #alpine plateau of Ben Avon, in the #CairngormsNationalPark in the Scottish #Highlands. 🕷️🪲🐛

    Four habitat types, three pitfall traps each: looking forward!
    Maybe we can find some new records of soil invertebrates? The chances are high, as alpine soil fauna studies are rare in the UK.

    Thanks to Andrea Britton and Debbie Fielding from #jameshuttonInstitute for helping do field work! ✌️

    #BEN_EAF #AlpSoil_Lab #MountainSoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #Scotland

  8. A beetle mite with its own pet mite riding on its back. This thing is miniscule. I think I took this at nearly 4.5x. There were a few of these in the soil near one of the pill louse I just posted.

    #Nature #Photography #Mites #Orbatid #Galumnidae #Arthropods
    #SriLanka #SoilFauna #Soil

  9. A beetle mite with its own pet mite riding on its back. This thing is miniscule. I think I took this at nearly 4.5x. There were a few of these in the soil near one of the pill louse I just posted.

    #Nature #Photography #Mites #Orbatid #Galumnidae #Arthropods
    #SriLanka #SoilFauna #Soil

  10. Two other individuals I believe all of the same species. They are both rolly pollied... I love the second image that shows how perfectly the roll up.

    #Nature #Photography #Arthropods #Crustation #SriLanka #Armadillidae #SoilFauna #Soil #Macro

  11. Two other individuals I believe all of the same species. They are both rolly pollied... I love the second image that shows how perfectly the roll up.

    #Nature #Photography #Arthropods #Crustation #SriLanka #Armadillidae #SoilFauna #Soil #Macro

  12. While samplings of #alpine beasties in the #Cairngorms #NationalPark for my #BEN_EAF project at the #JamesHuttonInstitute are still in the preparation, here some impressions of the critters I've found while hiking.
    As temperatures go up, so more activity is expected, right?
    ? 🤓🕷️🐛🪱🧬

    #NatureScot #ScottishHighlands #Highlands #AlpineSoils #AlpSoil_Lab #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity

  13. While samplings of #alpine beasties in the #Cairngorms #NationalPark for my #BEN_EAF project at the #JamesHuttonInstitute are still in the preparation, here some impressions of the critters I've found while hiking.
    As temperatures go up, so more activity is expected, right?
    ? 🤓🕷️🐛🪱🧬

    #NatureScot #ScottishHighlands #Highlands #AlpineSoils #AlpSoil_Lab #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity

  14. Preparations for my #BEN_EAF project as visiting scientist at the #JamesHuttonInstitute are still ongoing, but I could hike in the Scottish #Highlands already!

    Looking forward to taking #alpine #SoilFauna samples (cores and pitfall traps) and to compare these with #eDNA samplings. 🕷️🧬

    #MountainSoilBiodiversity #Scotland #Aberdeenshire #Cairngorms

  15. Preparations for my #BEN_EAF project as visiting scientist at the #JamesHuttonInstitute are still ongoing, but I could hike in the Scottish #Highlands already!

    Looking forward to taking #alpine #SoilFauna samples (cores and pitfall traps) and to compare these with #eDNA samplings. 🕷️🧬

    #MountainSoilBiodiversity #Scotland #Aberdeenshire #Cairngorms

  16. First day for me today at "the Hutton" in Aberdeen, Scotland!

    I will conduct my research on alpine soil fauna here for the next five months and check out what "beasties" we can find in the remote and astonishing Scottish Highlands. 🕷️🪲🪱

    Thanks to The James Hutton Institute for hosting me, and a big thank you for the warm welcoming today. 🤗

    (Jenni Stockan, Andrea Britton, Tom Parker and more!)

    #SoilFauna #AlpineSoils #MountainSoilBiodiversity #AlpEnv_Lab

  17. First day for me today at "the Hutton" in Aberdeen, Scotland!

    I will conduct my research on alpine soil fauna here for the next five months and check out what "beasties" we can find in the remote and astonishing Scottish Highlands. 🕷️🪲🪱

    Thanks to The James Hutton Institute for hosting me, and a big thank you for the warm welcoming today. 🤗

    (Jenni Stockan, Andrea Britton, Tom Parker and more!)

    #SoilFauna #AlpineSoils #MountainSoilBiodiversity #AlpEnv_Lab

  18. Want to learn how to start doing soil animal macrophotography? Or how to improve your current macrophotography? Perhaps you just fancy a rare glimpse into mine and Andy Murray's enigmatic minds? Well, here you go!

    A new perspectives article has just dropped in Soil Organisms journal, where Monica Farfan digs into mine and Andy's love for documenting and communicating soil biodiversity using photography! It was a very fun interview, jammed full of macrophotography tips and photos.

    It's completely free to access:
    soil-organisms.org/SO/article/

    #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #Macrophotography #Entomology #Soil #Nature #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet

  19. YEAH! 🎉
    Today #BEN_EAF kick-offs as collaboration of Eurac Research, South Tyrol (#AlpSoil_Lab) and the James Hutton Institute (#EnB group), Scotland.

    We will identify alpine #SoilFauna in the Highlands using traditional and modern #eDNA methods.

    Stay tuned!
    doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18172.

    #SoilBiodiversity #MountainSoils #MountainsSoilBiodiversity #Scotland #AlpineSoils #SoilMacroFauna #SoilMesoFauna

  20. YEAH! 🎉
    Today #BEN_EAF kick-offs as collaboration of Eurac Research, South Tyrol (#AlpSoil_Lab) and the James Hutton Institute (#EnB group), Scotland.

    We will identify alpine #SoilFauna in the Highlands using traditional and modern #eDNA methods.

    Stay tuned!
    doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18172.

    #SoilBiodiversity #MountainSoils #MountainsSoilBiodiversity #Scotland #AlpineSoils #SoilMacroFauna #SoilMesoFauna

  21. Some exciting life news... I am now a lecturer in Entomology and Ecology at Lincoln University in New Zealand!

    We took the Entomology students on a fieldtrip over the weekend, and saw some of my favourite invertebrates: Velvet worms (Ooperipatellus) and giant springtails (Holacanthella)! Always a joy to see these incredible creatures.

    #Entomology #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #Ento #Macrophotography #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet

  22. There are few soil animals as adorable as springtails!

    This Platunurida sp. is a cousin of the famous 'giant' springtails in New Zealand. Instead of colourful spines, it has a flattened body, so it can squeeze into cracks in decaying logs, where it lives. They're surprisingly fast at escaping into the cracks, so it's difficult to get a good photo of them!

    #Entomology #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #Nature #SoilFauna #NaturePhotography #Soil #SoilEcology #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet

  23. I am very happy to be part of and to see this review on #Isopoda and #Oniscidea (woodlice, terrestrial isopods) published in the #SoilOrganisms journal.

    Many thanks to Konstantin Gongalsky & Pallieter De Smedt for leading this excellent work! 🎊

    Read/download the review: doi.org/10.25674/466
    And if you have Oniscidea data: SHARE THEM!

    #OniscidBase #Isopods #Critters #SoilFauna #SoilMacroFauna #CallForData

  24. I am very happy to be part of and to see this review on #Isopoda and #Oniscidea (woodlice, terrestrial isopods) published in the #SoilOrganisms journal.

    Many thanks to Konstantin Gongalsky & Pallieter De Smedt for leading this excellent work! 🎊

    Read/download the review: doi.org/10.25674/466
    And if you have Oniscidea data: SHARE THEM!

    #OniscidBase #Isopods #Critters #SoilFauna #SoilMacroFauna #CallForData

  25. Very helpful #preprint on #authorea from on "Standardised protocols for soil fauna extraction and a call for cross-lab implementation" 🪱🕷️🐞

    doi.org/10.22541/au....

    #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity #SoilLabs #Soil

  26. Very helpful #preprint on #authorea from on "Standardised protocols for soil fauna extraction and a call for cross-lab implementation" 🪱🕷️🐞

    doi.org/10.22541/au....

    #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity #SoilLabs #Soil

  27. SOIL BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL ISSUE!

    Are you researching the conservation, ecology or taxonomy of soil and litter invertebrates?

    Then consider submitting your paper to this Special Issue of the New Zealand Journal of Zoology, edited by me, Carlos Barreto and Andrew Barnes (what a dream team!).

    Just send me preliminary manuscript info by 30 November 2025.

    More information: royalsociety.org.nz/news/nzjz-

    #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Soil

  28. I've been largely absent from social media lately, as it would be an understatement to say I've got lot on at the moment... with a draft book manuscript due in two weeks (Eeeeek!), and a lot of research work to complete before a brand new baby Ashwood arrives in five weeks (even more Eeeeeek)!!

    Time is a scarce commodity right now, send positive vibes please!

    #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #SoilBiology #Entomology #Fatherhood

  29. This festival of waxy lumps is a baby biting midge, AKA a Forcipomyia larvae. Before they grow up to be bloodsuckers, they're surprisingly cute.

    They're very common on decaying logs here in Aotearoa, but I don't often photograph them. However, my good friend and fellow macrophotographer Andy Murray loves them, and has a whole webpage dedicated to them - so go check that out!

    chaosofdelight.org/forcipomyia

    #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Mesofauna #Macrophotography #Macro #Nature #NaturePhotography

  30. Hey, as I do love soil animals and critters, I did support an artist who draws very nice pictures of the vast variety of #SoilBiodiversity (mainly #SoilFauna). Stickers for the kids 🤩

    If you love #soil too, give it a try and support Svenja Meyer (bsky.app/profile/fminifera.bsk) and check out her store at smartwork.bigcartel.com/

    #SoilIsLife #SoilIsAlive

  31. Hey, as I do love soil animals and critters, I did support an artist who draws very nice pictures of the vast variety of #SoilBiodiversity (mainly #SoilFauna). Stickers for the kids 🤩

    If you love #soil too, give it a try and support Svenja Meyer (bsky.app/profile/fminifera.bsk) and check out her store at smartwork.bigcartel.com/

    #SoilIsLife #SoilIsAlive

  32. Well: late April rain was insufficient in my forest. growing plants absorbed every of it and soils remained exactly as dramatically dry as before.

    no water = no life!

    In early May, a crucial breeding time period for most insects, observation spots in clearings were devoid of any soil insect, despite heat and sun. No ground beetles. No rove beetles. Nothing. Ludicrous!

    A little insect activity is detected under canopy only.

    Without any predator roaming, my clearings are turning into a slug paradise! (I did not shoot a picture because some people seem to be afraid of slugs).

    #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #forest

  33. Well: late April rain was insufficient in my forest. growing plants absorbed every of it and soils remained exactly as dramatically dry as before.

    no water = no life!

    In early May, a crucial breeding time period for most insects, observation spots in clearings were devoid of any soil insect, despite heat and sun. No ground beetles. No rove beetles. Nothing. Ludicrous!

    A little insect activity is detected under canopy only.

    Without any predator roaming, my clearings are turning into a slug paradise! (I did not shoot a picture because some people seem to be afraid of slugs).

    #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #forest

  34. I bring you some exciting news...

    I'VE DISCOVERED THE FIRST EVER GIANT SPRINGTAILS IN CHRISTCHURCH CITY!

    The closest known populations before this were at Arthur's Pass, but now we can add the Port Hills to their distribution map.

    Definitely my proudest observation from last week's iNaturalist City Nature Challenge.

    #Entomology #Collembola #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Nature #Macrophotography

  35. Excuse the radio silence from me lately, it's been a very intense University teaching semester.

    On the plus side, I've done LOADS of entomology-related lecturing, which has been great fun! Naturally, I've squeezed in plenty of soil invertebrate content to my lectures, such as this bizarre, not-quite-an-insect, Proturan!

    Protura are six-legged, wingless, eyeless and lack pigmentation and antennae. Instead, they raise their front pair of legs forwards as they move, which are covered in sensory hairs. This gives them the slightly comical appearance of a villain in Scooby-Do trying to sneak up menacingly behind someone!

    #Invertebrate #Macrophotography #SoilEcology #SoilBiodiversity #Entomology #SoilFauna #Nature #NaturePhotography

  36. ONLY THREE HOURS LEFT TO VOTE!

    Anyone in the world can vote in the Bug of the Year contest - It's quick and easy! Please go vote for the Giant Springtail RIGHT NOW!

    bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-

    If it wins, I'll get one as my first ever tattoo!!

    #Invertebrate #TeamGiantSpringtail #Entomology #Collembola #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna

  37. #Alpine #SoilFauna season ended with an astonishing #hike close to #glacier.

    As bonus we hiked up to the Hohe Wart (Guardia Alta, 3424m), which is on the crest towards the #Similaun (3606m)

    In our samplings, we found something surprising 🥳 more details will be soon published in a short notice ✌️

    #AlpSoil_Lab #SoilBiodiversity #MountainSoilBiodiversity #Mountains #Alps #EuropeanAlps #SouthTyrol #Italy #Vinschgau #ValVenosta #Schnals #Senales #HighAlpine #SoilMacrofauna #SoilMesofauna #GLORIA

  38. What an adventure 🤠
    We as #AlpSoil_Lab from #EuracResearch set up our highest pitfall traps yet at high #alpine sites at 3300m and 3100m.
    These #GLORIA sites are quite steep and challenging to reach, but I can't wait to see the #soilfauna living up there 🔍

    #SoilScience #SoilBiodiversity #Alps #EuropeanAlps #SoilBiology #SouthTyrol #Italy #TexelGroup #Mountains #Mountaineering

  39. #SoilZoology people: one last week to go to register for the #ICSZ2024 #ICA2024 #conference in Cape Town, South Africa!

    Be there - in person or virtually 🪱🕷️🪲🦗🐌🐜🦟

    --> www.icsz2024.org

    #SoilBiology #SoilScience #SoilFauna #SoilIsLife #SoilIsAlive