Three mechanisms are proposed
to explain this paradox. Firstly, that in highly diverse
communities the ‘signal’ of particular soil fauna effects
is masked by the ‘noise’ from other biophysical events
that contribute to the same properties and processes
(e.g. carbon and nitrogen mineralisation, soil structure
and hydrologic fl uxes). Secondly, that many processes
created by soil fauna have ‘sink’ and ‘source’ dynamics
that can nullify the signal of these local effects at
larger spatial scales. Thirdly, that at large temporal and
spatial scales, biophysical parameters are used as rate
determinants of ecosystem processes and the structure
of above or below-ground communities is rarely
invoked. There are, however, circumstances in which
the ecosystems are in transitional states, or in which
environmental events synchronise with soil fauna
activities, when roles of soil fauna become apparent
at the plot and ecosystem level. Further research into
these processes could defi ne situations in which soil
fauna are key determinants of ecosystem processes, and
gain wider recognition of the functional importance of
soil fauna by other disciplines.