Ecological Interactions in Soil: Experiments on Populations and Processes

在这项拟议的研究中，佐治亚大学的科尔曼博士和他的同事们将调查并集中研究影响土壤动物群落结构和功能复杂性的因素，动物之间以及与它们的细菌和真菌猎物之间的相互作用，以及这些相互作用对高等植物的影响。在他们的工作中，他们还将尝试在群落结构和生态系统功能之间建立联系，他们认为这是在生态学中统一“种群”和“生态系统”方法的关键一步。这项工作引起了土壤生物学家和生态学家的极大兴趣，但对农业系统和林业的管理实践也有重大影响。该计划建议提供资金。

In this proposed research, Dr. Coleman and his colleagues at the University of Georgia will investigate and concentrate on factors influencing the structural and functional complexity of soil faunal communities, on interactions among fauna and with their bacterial and fungal prey, and on the effects of these interactions on higher plants. In their work, they will also attempt to make correlations between community structure and ecosystem function, which they feel is an essential step in unifying "population" and "ecosystems" approaches in ecology. The work is of great interest to soil biologists and ecologists but has major implications for management practices in agricultural systems and forestry. The Program recommends funding.