Explore the inner workings of soils with Philippe Hinsinger

The Hidden Life of Soils is a book about biodiversity in relation to soil functioning.

Summary :

Soils constitute one of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on the planet. The functioning of terrestrial ecosystems is linked to the roles of the many organisms that live underground, these discreet inhabitants, hidden or invisible to the naked eye. From bacteria to fungi, from microscopic animals to plants via their roots, from detritivorous or predatory arthropods to small mammals, not to mention earthworms, they interact with each other and profoundly modify soil characteristics.

Because soils are evolving. They have a past, of which they bear traces, and a future. But whether they are exploited, agricultural or forested areas, or so-called natural or pristine ecosystems, they are threatened from all sides. In addition to artificialization, pollution, and the decline in their biodiversity, they are also seriously affected by natural processes such as acidification, salinization, and erosion, which are amplified by human activities.

Intended for a wide audience and richly illustrated, this book strives to highlight the richness of soils, the life they support, and the imperative need to preserve them in the context of climate change and land use around the world.

Find his book on the Quae website: here