From the Foreword: "Anyone who has glimpsed a sample of soil animals, especially the soil arthropods, through the binocular microscope will never forget the fascination of their abundant shapes and structures ... electron microscopy has added another dimension which multiplies the initial fascination. When I leaf through this "atlas" my attention is repeatedly caught by the numerous pictures. ... the richness of form and function of the soil arthropods has proved to be an inexhaustible source of biological interest. The authors ... demonstrate this in a praiseworthy manner. ...This atlas offers every teacher the opportunity of rapidly obtaining an overview and thus compiling the most vivid teaching material. ... Finally, the index offers easy access to each individual aspect of the subject to those who are motivated to study further."

1 General Introduction.- 1.1 The Soil as a Biotope.- 1.1.1 Soil Profiles.- 1.1.2 Ecological Factors.- 1.2 Forms of Life in the Soil.- 1.2.1 Euedaphon.- 1.2.2 Epedaphon.- 1.2.3 Hemiedaphon.- 1.3 Soil Communities.- 1.3.1 Decomposition of Plant Debris.- 1.3.2 Decomposer Food Web.- 2 Systematic Chapters.- 2.1 Order: Araneae - Spiders (Arachnida).- 2.1.1 Soil-Dwelling Spiders.- 2.1.2 Structural Features of the Body of Spiders.- 2.1.3 The Pedipalps of the Male Spider.- 2.1.4 The Chelicerae.- 2.1.5 Sheet Web Constructing Spiders.- 2.1.6 The Spinning Apparatus.- 2.1.7 Cribellum and Calamistrum of Amaurobius.- 2.1.8 Spiders which Spin Tubular Webs.- 2.1.9 Free Hunting Spiders.- 2.1.10 Biotope of Edaphic Spiders.- 2.1.11 Care of the Young - The Egg Sac.- 2.1.12 Care of the Young - Brood Care.- 2.1.13 Surface Structures of a Spider.- 2.2 Order: Pseudoscorpiones - Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida).- 2.2.1 Characteristics of Pseudoscorpions.- 2.2.2 Predatory Behaviour in Pseudoscorpions.- 2.2.3 Food Preferences.- 2.2.4 Mating and Brood Biology.- 2.3 Order: Opiliones - Harvestmen (Arachnida).- 2.3.1 Anatomy of Harvestmen.- 2.3.2 The Biotope of Harvestmen.- 2.3.3 The Diet of Harvestmen.- 2.3.4 Snail-Eating Harvestmen.- 2.3.5 The Mating Behaviour of Harvestmen.- 2.3.6 On the Phenology of the Phalangiidae.- 2.3.7 The Development of the Phalangiidae.- 2.3.8 The Ovipositor of the Harvestmen.- 2.3.9 The Habitat of the Hemiedaphic Siro duricorius.- 2.3.10 The Defence Mechanisms of Harvestment.- 2.4 Order: Acari - Mites (Arachnida).- 2.4.1 Characteristics of the Acari.- 2.4.2 Parasitiformes of the Soil.- 2.4.3 Free-Living Gamasina (Gamasides).- 2.4.4 The Prey of Predatory Mites (Gamasina).- 2.4.5 Vertical Distribution of Predatory Mites.- 2.4.6 Body Segmentation of the Acari.- 2.4.7 Cryptostigmata (Oribatei) "Horn, Moss or Beetle Mites".- 2.4.8 Horizontal Distribution and Aggregation of the Cryptostigmata (Oribatei).- 2.4.9 The Feeding Habits of the Oribatei.- 2.4.10 The Significance of the Oribatei to Soil Biology.- 2.4.11 Vertical Distribution of the Oribatei.- 2.4.12 Protective Mechanisms of the Oribatids Against Predation.- 2.4.13 Epiphytic Oribatei.- 2.4.14 The Pseudostigmatic Organs of the Oribatids.- 2.4.15 Phoresis in Mites.- 2.5 Order: Isopoda - Isopods (Crustacea).- 2.5.1 Oniscoidea - Terrestrial Isopods.- 2.5.2 Sensory Organs on the Antennae of the Oniscoidea.- 2.5.3 Isopods as Primary Decomposers - Food Preferences.- 2.5.4 Isopods as Primary Decomposers - Turnover of Organic Matter.- 2.5.5 Surface Structures for the Formation of a Plastron.- 2.5.6 Cuticular Structures to Minimize Contact with Surrounding Surfaces.- 2.5.7 Pleopod-Endopodites as Gills.- 2.5.8 The Water-Conducting System of the Terrestrial Isopods - Porcellio Type.- 2.5.9 The Water-Conducting System of the Terrestrial Isopods - Ligia Type.- 2.5.10 Lungs in the Pleopod-Exopodites of the Terrestrial Isopods.- 2.5.11 Reabsorption by the Endopodites of the Terrestrial Isopods.- 2.6 Subclass: Chilopoda - Centipedes (Myriapoda).- 2.6.1 Geophilomorpha and Lithobiidae.- 2.6.2 Euedaphic Life in the Geophilomorpha.- 2.6.3 Antennal Sensory Organs in the Geophilomorpha.- 2.6.4 Coxal Organs of the Geophilomorpha.- 2.6.5 Epedaphic Life in the Lithobiidae.- 2.6.6 Predatory Feeding Habits of the Lithobiidae.- 2.6.7 Moisture Requirements of the Chilopoda.- 2.7 Subclass: Diplopoda - Millipedes (Myriapoda).- 2.7.1 The Epedaphic and Hemiedaphic Diplopoda.- 2.7.2 Life Form - Rammer (Bulldozer) Type (Iulidae).- 2.7.3 Protection Against Attackers - Defensive Glands.- 2.7.4 Life Form - Globular Type (Glomeridae).- 2.7.5 Moisture Requirements of the Diplopoda.- 2.7.6 Life Form - Wedge Type (Polydesmidae).- 2.7.7 Respiratory Organs of the Diplopoda.- 2.7.8 Life Form - Bark-Dweller (Polyxenidae).- 2.7.9 Sensory Hairs of Polyxenus lagurus.- 2.7.10 Reproduction of Polyxenus lagurus.- 2.7.11 Water Balance in Polyxenus lagurus.- 2.8 Subclass: Pauropoda - (Myriapoda).- 2.8.1 Characteristics of the Pauropoda.- 2.8.2 Adaptation of Sensory Perception - Pseudoculus.- 2.8.3 Adaptation of Sensory Perception - Trichobothrium.- 2.9 Subclass: Symphyla - (Myriapoda).- 2.9.1 Characteristics of the Symphyla.- 2.9.2 Moisture as an Ecological Factor - Tömösváry Organ.- 2.9.3 Moisture as an Ecological Factor - Coxal Vesicles.- 2.9.4 Indirect Transfer of Spermatophores.- 2.9.5 Protection Against Predators - Spinning Styli.- 2.10 Order: Diplura - Doubletails (Insecta).- 2.10.1 Characteristics of the Diplura.- 2.10.2 Sensory Organs on the Antennae of Campodea.- 2.10.3 Morphology of the Head of Campodea.- 2.10.4 Respiration of the Diplura.- 2.10.5 Osmoregulation in the Diplura.- 2.10.6 Adaptations of the Body of Euedaphic Diplura.- 2.10.7 Predatory Life of the Diplura.- 2.10.8 Biology of the Japygidae.- 2.11 Order: Protura (Insecta).- 2.11.1 Characteristics of the Protura.- 2.11.2 Soil Biological Aspects.- 2.12 Order: Collembola - Springtails (Insecta).- 2.12.1 Anatomy of the Collembola.- 2.12.2 Life Forms of the Collembola.- 2.12.3 Compound Eye of the Collembola.- 2.12.4 Ventral Tube of the Collembola.- 2.12.5 Jumping Apparatus of the Collembola.- 2.12.6 Euedaphic Collembola (Onychiuridae).- 2.12.7 Sensory Organs of Euedaphic Collembola (Onychiuridae).- 2.12.8 Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Onychiuridae).- 2.12.9 Pseudocelli of Euedaphic Collembola.- 2.12.10 Surface Structure of the Collembola.- 2.12.11 Mating Behaviour of the Collembola.- 2.12.12 Vertical Distribution and Aggregation of the Collembola.- 2.12.13 Respiration of the Collembola.- 2.12.14 Dwellers on Ice and Snow: Glacier Fleas.- 2.12.15 Dwellers on Ice and Snow: Firn Fleas.- 2.13 Order: Archaeognatha - Bristletails (Insecta).- 2.13.1 Characteristics of the Archaeognatha.- 2.13.2 Sensory Organs on the Mouthparts of Bristletails (Machilidae).- 2.13.3 Water Balance of the Machilidae.- 2.13.4 Outer Genital Appendages of the Archaeognatha.- 2.13.5 Mating Biology of Bristletails.- 2.13.6 Egg Deposition in the Machilid Trigoniophthalmus alternatus.- 2.14 Order: Zygentoma (Insecta).- 2.14.1 Characteristics of the Zygentoma (Silverfish, Firebrats).- 2.14.2 Structure and Function of the Scales.- 2.14.3 Labial Nephridium of the Silverfish.- 2.14.4 Outer Genital Appendages of the Zygentoma.- 2.14.5 Sensilla on the Abdominal Appendages.- 2.15 Order: Dermaptera - Earwigs (Insecta).- 2.15.1 Soil-Dwelling Earwigs.- 2.15.2 Sensory Perception and Thigmotaxis in Earwigs.- 2.15.3 Feeding Habits and Defence of the Earwigs.- 2.16 Order: Blattodea - Cockroaches (Insecta).- 2.16.1 Characteristics of the Soil-Dwelling Cockroaches.- 2.16.2 Antennae of the Epedaphic Cockroaches.- 2.16.3 The Legs of Epedaphic Cockroaches.- 2.17 Order: Ensifera - Long-Horned Grasshoppers and Crickets (Insecta).- 2.17.1 Forest- and Field-Dwelling Crickets.- 2.17.2 Hemiedaphic Life in Crickets.- 2.17.3 Sensory Hairs on the Cerci of Crickets.- 2.18 Order: Hemiptera (Insecta).- 2.18.1 Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae).- 2.18.2 Fossorial Life of the Hemiptera.- 2.18.3 Defensive Stink Glands in Bugs.- 2.18.4 Care of the Brood and Larval Development.- 2.19 Order: Planipennia (Ins…