Theory 110/Soil Science
Soil Diversity Is Pore Size
The claim
Soil biodiversity is set by the pore-size distribution rather than by organic matter content.
01The mechanism
Habitat space is partitioned by pore diameter; a soil with the right size classes supports more taxa than a richer soil with uniform pores.
02Predictions
- P1Diversity should track pore distribution.
- P2Organic matter should mispredict.
03Refutation
Diversity tracking organic matter would remove the pore term.