microfauna

microfauna
—microfaunal, adj.
/muy'kroh faw"neuh/, n., pl. microfaunas, microfaunae /-nee/. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)
1. Biol. microscopic animals.
2. Ecol. the fauna of a microhabitat.
[1900-05; MICRO- + FAUNA]

* * *

      small, often microscopic animals, especially those inhabiting the soil, an organ, or other localized habitat. Single-celled protozoans, small nematodes, small unsegmented worms, and tardigrades (eight-legged arthropods) are the most common components of microfauna. Many inhabit water films or pore spaces in leaf litter and in the soil, feeding on smaller microorganisms that decompose organic material.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • microfaună — MICROFÁUNĂ, microfaune, s.f. Totalitatea animalelor microscopice de pe glob, dintr o regiune sau dintr un spaţiu restrâns. [pr.: fa u ] – Micro1 + faună. Trimis de LauraGellner, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  microfáună s. f. (sil. cro fa u ), g. d …   Dicționar Român

  • microfauna — [mī΄krō fô′nə] n. pl. microfaunas, microfaunae [mī΄krō fô′nē] 1. minute, esp. microscopic, fauna 2. the animals of a given microhabitat microfaunal adj …   English World dictionary

  • Microfauna — Soybean cyst nematode and egg. Microfauna (Ancient Greek mikros small + New Latin fauna animal ) refers to microscopic organisms that exhibit animal like qualities. Microfauna are represented in the animal kingdom (e.g., nematodes, small… …   Wikipedia

  • microfauna — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: 1895 1. minute animals; especially those invisible to the naked eye < the soil microfauna > 2. a small or strictly localized fauna (as of a microenvironment) • microfaunal adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • microfauna — mi·cro·fau·na .mī krō fȯn ə, fän n minute animals esp those invisible to the naked eye <the soil microfauna> compare MACROFAUNA mi·cro·fau·nal fȯn əl, fän adj * * * mi·cro·fau·na (mi″kro fawґnə) the animal life, visible only… …   Medical dictionary

  • microfauna — mikrofauna statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Smulkios (mikroskopinės) iškastinių organizmų liekanos. atitikmenys: angl. microfauna vok. Mikrofauna, f rus. микрофауна, f …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • microfauna — n. [Gr. mikros, small; L. Faunus, diety of herds and fields] Very small animals; animals less than 200 m …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • microfauna — noun The smallest of the faunal size divisions, including mainly microorganisms but also sometimes applied to the tiniest species of animal groups such as ticks, insects, etc …   Wiktionary

  • microfauna — Pequeños animales con un tamaño menor a 5 mm. Generalmente se refiere a la fauna del suelo …   Diccionario ecologico

  • microfauna — mi|cro|fau|na Mot Pla Nom femení …   Diccionari Català-Català

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”