The functioning of biological systems of regulation largely depends on the nature and
biological characteristics of all three major components i.e., characteristics of the energy source, microbial communities and invertebrates . It is therefore possible to separately consider (i) the litter systems, which comprise leaf litter as a food supply, surface lateral roots, epigeic invertebrates (mainly arthropods) and microbial communities dominated by fungi; (ii) the drilospheres, which include earthworms, soil organic matter as a food source, and free-living soil microflora dominated by bacteria; and (iii) the temitospheres, i.e., the whole volume of soil and organic resources that termites affect through their activities, in association with obligate or optional mutualist microorganisms. The rhizospheres, i.e., living subterranean roots and the soil and microflora that they influence are another important biological system of regulation that has an analogous functioning to that of the above mentioned systems.