This is the first work to focus on microbes in gut systems of soil animals. Beginning with an overview of the biology of soil invertebrates, the text turns to the gut microbiota of termites, which are important soil processors in tropical and subtropical regions. Coverage extends to intestinal microbiota of such other litter decomposers as earthworms, springtails, millipedes, and woodlice. Thoroughly illustrated, including color photographs.

"Soil microorganisms play a major role in the degradation and recycling of organic material. Microbes are involved in the food web and strongly contribute to soil fertility. In the past, attention was mainly directed towards free-living or particle-bound microorganisms, while the role of intestinal microbes of soil animals has been neglected.

Soil Invertebrates.- Biology of Soil Invertebrates.- Interactions Between Bacteria and Nematodes.- Earthworm Gut Microbial Biomes: Their Importance to Soil Microorganisms, Denitrification, and the Terrestrial Production of the Greenhouse Gas N2O.- Intestinal Microbiota of Millipedes.- Intestinal Microbiota of Terrestrial Isopods.- Collembola as a Habitat for Microorganisms.- Methane Production by Terrestrial Arthropods.- Termites as Model Organisms.- Termites as Soil Engineers and Soil Processors.- Cellulose Digestion in the Termite Gut.- Symbiotic Protozoa of Termites.- Diversity and Lignocellulolytic Activities of Cultured Microorganisms.- Diversity and Molecular Analyses of Yet-Uncultivated Microorganisms.- The Intestinal Yeasts.- Termitomyces/Termite Interactions.- Microbiology of Termite Hill (Mound) and Soil.- The Termite Gut Habitat: Its Evolution and Co-Evolution.- Modern Methods for Studying Intestinal Methods.- The Microbial Soil Flora: Novel Approaches for Accessing the Phylogenetic and Physiological Diversity of Prokaryotes.- Micromanipulation Techniques for the Isolation of Single Microorganisms.- Localization and Visualization of Microbial Community Structure and Activity in Soil Microhabitats.- Microsensors for the Study of Microenvironments and Processes in the Intestine of Invertebrates.