The Soil Zoo (The Hidden Life of Earth?s Extraordinary Microcosmic Underworld)

Life above ground certainly garners most of our attention, from flora to fauna easily spotted with our own eyes. Life in the soil, however, does not often receive the same attention, despite how much we rely on it to grow our plants and protect our natural resources. But with help from the latest in macrophotography technology, The Soil Zoo introduces us to this underground world in a completely new way, compelling us to shift our focus to the microcosm that forms the basis of all higher life—even if they’re not visible to the naked eye.

By using electron microscopes and high-tech cameras to photograph soil from Germany’s Black Forest, Nicole Ottawa and Oliver Meckes reveal springtails chewing on deadwood, ciliates feeding on bacteria, amoebas hunting nematodes, voracious mites, and fungi and lichens forming networks. Through accompanying text, Veronika Straass and Claus-Peter Lieckfeld expand our understanding of this astonishingly vibrant world through enlightening stories and deeply researched data.

An ecological building block, soil is essential to the health of our planet and all of us who inhabit it—including the up to ten billion organisms that can inhabit a handful of soil, their life cycles ranging from a few hours to entire centuries. This blend of photography and text invites us to marvel at the teeming organisms that work diligently out of sight and underfoot to maintain a foundation of life on planet Earth. From inquisitive gardeners to science-loving readers, everyone will be captivated by these weird and wonderful micro creatures who remind us of the importance of treating our planet with care and curiosity.