macrobiota(macrofauna, macroflora) A general term for the larger soil organisms which may be hand-sorted from a soil sample. ‘Macrofauna’ in particular refers to burrowing vertebrate animals (e.g. rabbits and moles), while ‘macrobiota’ generally also includes larger plant material (e.g. tree roots). Some workers also include larger insects and earthworms in this category, but others consider them part of the mesobiota. Compare mesobiota and microbiota.

macrobiota (macrofauna, macroflora) A general term for the larger soil organisms which may be hand-sorted from a soil sample. ‘Macrofauna’ in particular refers to burrowing vertebrate animals (e.g. rabbits and moles), while ‘macrobiota’ generally also includes larger plant material (e.g. tree roots). Some workers also include larger insects and earthworms in this category, but others consider them part of the mesobiota. Compare MESOBIOTA and MICROBIOTA.