Kwik-Key to Soil Dwelling Invertebrates

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Developed by John R. Meyer, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University
Beneath our feet lives a world of organisms most of us never see. Its diversity is staggering: 15 to 20 major taxonomic groups can often be collected in a single square-foot sample of humus, with the population density of some species exceeding 1 million individuals per acre!
Kwik-Key is designed to help students identify many of the invertebrate organisms commonly found in soil or ground cover. Used with a Berlese funnel in the classroom or stand-alone in the field, the key can be used to take your students on an exciting subterranean soil safari.
Once specimens have been identified, students can estimate population density and extrapolate their findings to a per-acre or per-hectare basis. Students can also construct a simple trophic pyramid or pyramid of numbers for the sampled community.
Provides background information on orders and key distinguishing characteristics.
References. 43 pp., softcover.

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