James B. Nardi
University of Chicago Press, Chicago
2007; 293 pgs
Price: $25.00 (soft)
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-56852-2

This book is an enjoyable read for any naturalist, gardener, and biologist, and covers the full array of life teeming in the soil, from bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Even the slime molds are fascinating as they “creep and spread over logs, twigs, and fallen leaves, leaving a trail of slime in their wake.” As an entomologist, reading this book made me more appreciative of the role of mammals in maintaining soil health. For instance, areas inhabited by prairie dogs have 24% more plant production. Animals common to other parts of the world are also included, like the jerboa—a kangaroo-like rodent with long ears. To start off, Nardi explains in easy-to-understand terms the basics of soil biology and chemistry, including how soil is made from rain and rocks, the soil horizons, and nutrient cycling. The classification system and the role each organism plays in the food web is described with diagrams and alluded to throughout the book.

The bulk of the book covers the various organisms living in the soil, and when each organism is being described, it is accompanied by a fact box providing classification (Kingdom, Pylum, Class, Order, Family…) to an appropriate level of detail. In each fact box, each organism is also described by its place in the food web, impact on the home garden (allies, adversaries), size, lifespan, and estimated number of species. At the end, Nardi provides more hands-on information on working with the soil, such as making compost and constructing simple pitfall and burlese traps and viewing boxes to observe fascinating soil creatures.

Nardi provides black and white illustrations for most of the organisms and one section with colored drawings and photos to showcase the more colorful creatures. While the illustrations are nice, someone hoping to identify the organisms described in this book, including the insects, would still need to refer to a color field guide. Photos of the negative environmental impacts of tillage, acid rain, overgrazing, and salt accumulation make a vivid impression on the reader. On the other hand, photos of recommended practices nicely illustrate the benefits better than words.  Mustard plants grown with dead plant matter and with living soil creatures clearly outgrow plants grown in other soils.

This book provides a mixture of information in a textbook and field guide, and is written with a more conversational narrative, making each organism a character in a play. There are historical excerpts from Plato, Whitman, Thoreau, and early scientists who studied these creatures. While this book is geared towards the lay person, entomologists reading this book will pick up new information and anecdotes about some of the lesser-known arthropods. Any entomologist who works in extension or just wants to know more about soil health will find this helpful in expanding his or her knowledge of life beneath our feet.

Jana C. Lee
Horticultural Crops Research Unit
USDA-ARS
Corvallis, OR, 97330
E-mail: Jana.Lee@ars.usda.gov

American Entomology
Vol. 54, No. 4, Winter 2008