The soil is home to an almost endless variety of organisms. Surprisingly little is known about their lives. Animals use this habitat as hibernation sites or spend their entire lives underground. Plants absorb their nutrients from the soil and process it through their root systems. Fungi, bacteria, viruses – all play a role in the complex interaction. There are significant differences between various habitats and soil types. It is obvious that there are differences between forests, fields and meadows and that heavily compacted soils, such as those found in urban areas or after intensive soil cultivation, are particularly impaired. But even virgin forests, near-natural forests and areas used for forestry can differ considerably. Viktoria Zink draws selected organisms, in this instance found in a near-natural beech forest.
Der Boden und die Uneinsichtigkeit (The soil and the invisibleness), 2021
Drawings: Viktoria Zink, Scientific support: Gabriel Kirchmair
