1.My soil has the texture of loamy sand and aids in the flow of water and the movement of nutrients. Loamy sand is very malleable and easily erodes so water can travel through easily and can distribute its nutrients evenly.

2.The types of organisms in my area are small shrubs, grass, insects, and small reptiles like frogs.

3.I think the organisms in my area have an effect on my soils quality because loams contain more humus, and the organisms in my location contribute to more organic material and thus more humus.

4.The soil I collected is not likely to be eroded, because it has plants are growing from the soil, and my soil has layers with the top being darkened topsoil. Its loss would make the location bare and nutrient poor, but the chances of that happening are slim due to the fact that my location isn’t near any streaming water. But erosion could still happen due to transport by wind.

5.I think it is very important for an ecologist to think about soil texture, because it provides important clues as to the different factors affecting the ecosystem of that location. It is also important because the soil texture affects the organisms that live in that specific location.

My soil was classified as loamy sand, which allows for easy water movement. Because the water moves fairly well, nutrients are able to move to the roots allowing for greater nutrient uptake by the plant but the soil does not hold nutrients for long periods of time.

When I collected my soil samples I saw plenty of worms, ants, centipedes, and mosquitoes. These organisms help aerate the soil allowing for more extensive root development and water movement.

The soil I collected is not likely to be eroded because trees, ferns, and flowers heavily populate my location leaving minimal exposed soil. If it the soil were lost it would reduce the amount of seedlings and plants that would be able to grow in the understory of the forest. Sandy loam is a very fertile soil, so the location in which it would be deposited would benefit because it would promote more growth.

As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it determines what vegetation can grow, the vegetation in turn determines what organisms will be able to reside within that ecosystem.

It aides water because of their being clay in the soil because it won't let the water soak through the soil. It helps with nutrients because it isn't totally clay and there isn't any sand in it. There are deer, turkey, squirrels, wood chucks, etc with animals. There are trees everywhere with different types of grasses and weeds growing. Many green plants. Well they help aid with nutrients because when they die they decompose and the soil becomes richer with those nutrients. There has been erosion because it is on a hill and there has been a lot of rain recently. It's effects would be the nutrients wouldn't be able to be absorbed, but rather lost to the stream. If the erosion were to continue eventually not many species of plants would be able to grow because they wouldn't be getting the nutrients needed to grow. With the erosion the water would run into the stream. It's important to think about soil texture because it effects every organism in the area. It determines if plants are able to grow because of nutrients and because of waters ability to reach the plants in the soil. How the water is transferred by ground. Is there organisms around to keep the soil rich.

a. The soil's texture is a sandy loam. It is able to keep the shape of a ball, but as soon as I throw it up and catch it with my hand, the soil spreads.

b. The organisms present near the soil are worms, geese, ducks, swans, and fish in the pond nearby.

c. Worms affect the soil because they help water run through the soil since they are breaking it up by moving around in it, and they also provide the soil with nutrients through their droppings. I don't believe that the geese, ducks, and swans have much effect on the soil, but their droppings may provide the soil with nutrients as well.

d. Yes, this soil is likely to be eroded because it can be easily broken, and can easily be deposited to a new location because of its light texture. The movement of the soil would make it difficult for plants to grow in that current location, because the soil would cover newly forming plants. The elevation would also decrease, so more water would flow into this area. The soil would affect its new location by causing their to be higher elevations, and less water.

a) Based on the soil test, I've determined that the type of soil at my site is sandy loam. The moistened soil was very hard to roll into a coherent ball; once the ball was formed it collapsed when I tried to flatten it. The soil formed a very small ribbon about 5mm long and the texture was very gritty.b) The soil aids in water flow and movement of nutrients because the sand allows excess water to be removed and aeration of the soil because its loosely packed. The loam made up of a silt and clay allows some water to be retained, nourishing plants in the immediate area. This constant access to water and nutrients allows plant roots to fully develop leaving them well anchored and protected from the wind.c) When I harvested my sample of soil I found two earthworms and three gophers. d) The organisms found increase the quality of the soil by increasing aeration and nutrient supply through decomposition, waste, and burrowinge) The soil would erode in a heavy rainstorm and because my site is located on a hillside the eroding would increase. The soil would run into the creek beds and could eventually fill them causing the creeks to disappear and any life forms dependent on that environment.f) Soil texture is important to ecologists because it’s a major factor in the health of an ecosystem, the soil texture can aid or hinder in nutrient supply to plants in the area, causing a chain reaction in the food web. An area with good soil texture can flourish, thrive and support another organisms dependent on the flora of a certain area. Areas of heavy erosion could be identified based on soil texture and efforts could be made to try to contain it.

This sample is from the shoreline along Duck Lake. I determined that it would be classified as silty clay loam. Silty clay loam is notorious for having much slower water movement than a soil that contains some sand in it. Because the water moves slower through this type of soil, nutrients also will move slower. This texture of soil is good at holding nutrients. I did not see any large organisms within the soil but there were waterfowl around, deer tracks, frogs and other amphibians. There was also a lot of dead organic material and vegetation around also. The effects of the animal organisms on the soil would not be too severe. Digging, providing shelter for themselves and adding organic matter to the soil is what they would contribute. The vegetation would have a much larger effect on the soil because it provides a lot of organic matter. The soil is capable of being eroded, but where it is and the conditions around the soil, I would not see erosion as a problem. A loss of this soil would affect the vegetation as it is rich and provides nutrients for a lot of organisms. The only erosion would be the water moving it from the hore into the lake and the presence in the water would not have too much of an effect on those organisms. The loss on the shore could be detrimental is enough eroded. It is important to think about soil texture because the type of soil tells about the ecosystem, the organisms it can support and the possibility of erosion.

The soil in my location would best be described as silty clay loam.

How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?

Because my soil texture is closer to clay, the water flow is slower and nutrients might also have trouble getting through the thicker soil. However, my soil sample felt saturated with water or at least, moist enough which might cause a future problem of rot if there is a heavy rain and the water is not being absorbed and instead being retained.

What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?

Little worms were in my area where I collected the soil. I actually thought I had cleared the area and rolled my ball in my hands and noticed four little small worms trying to crawl out of the ball. Plant roots, twigs, and leaves were also present where I collected my soil.

What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?

If it is harder for water and nutrients to move through because the soil is thicker, these organisms might have to be slower moving or experience a lack of nutrients. In addition, the plants might be affected by rot (as discussed previously) if there was a lot of heavy rain.

Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current

location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the

location it moves to?

Yes, it is most likely to be eroded due to climate or topography changes within the area. The material looked at now was most likely eroded from someplace else, maybe higher up the hill of my location from the rain and runoff. Erosion might break up the soil or make it more dry, which would affect the organisms and plants that are adapted to a saturated, clay like environment. I think it might erode more towards the small pond in my location. I think it would affect the presence by perhaps hindering any growth as the area would be even more saturated. Or it might possibly help it or have no affect because the locations are close and similar. The soil might even break apart and settle at the bottom of the water (if it was eroded to this area) and form a new soil texture where different organisms and plants would have to adapt to it.

As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?

It is important to think about soil texture because everything in or surrounding the soil, like organisms, organic matter, water, air, and minerals make up a part of the soil texture and become affected by the soil texture if it changes in soil ratio. As mentioned in a title of our textbook, soil is the "foundation of terrestrial biomes". The soil texture results from changes in topography, climate, minerals, and organisms present, so it encompasses many different aspects that ecologists study within individual, population, community, and ecosystem ecology.

loamy sand and silty clay loam from under the trees.

Answers to questions in "Soil 1" pictures

Edwin Richey, Extension Associate Professor, Economics of soil testing. Green Up (Aphids, soils, wheat, cover crops and more) was the second KATS (Kentucky Agriculture Training School) topic of the 2020 season on March 5, 2020 at the Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky.

The soil in my location is loamy sand. Because the soil is not tightly packed or sticky, nutrients and water can move through it very easily. There are trees, ferns, flowers, grasses, ants, worms and many other organisms in the area which I collected the sand from. The organisms leach nutrients from the soil and use the water found in the soil as well. They may aid in drying it out and making it gritty. The soil is likely to be eroded because it is so lightly packed and easily gets picked up by the wind. Luckily it is covered by about three inches of organic matter so erosion is much less likely. Loss of the soil would be detrimental to the location because it could create valleys where it has left the area. These valleys could then become bodies of water and kill off some of the organisms living there. The soil is most likely to erode near the base of the trees because that is where the least amount of organic matter is found and there are not roots holding it down. The new locations that the soil moves to could become more appropriate for plant life and a more lush ecosystem. As an ecologist, thinking about soil texture can help one to understand an environment and protect it. Conservation begins with the roots of the trees and the soil that they lie in, and problems can arise in an ecosystem from something as simple as soil erosion. Understanding these things can be extremely beneficial.

a) My soil's texture aids water flow because it is fairly granular. I would call it a sandy loam type of soil. This coarseness allows water to pass more freely though the soil. The soil happens to have a lot of organics in it too. These particles and chunks have lots of nutrients in them, enriching the soil. The ease of movement of water through the soils helps to carry these nutrients throughout and keep it rich and healthy to support plant life.

b) There are a lot of different plants, as well as numerous insect and arachnid species. The plants vary from large trees to leafy plants to vines. The insects seem to mostly be flies but there are also ants and other ground dwellers too.

c) The plants take up some of the nutrients in the soil, depleting it slowly which affects quality and lowers it. The insects dig tunnels in the soil, which helps aerate it and enriches it.

d) I would say that it is not all that likely to be eroded because of the location. It is in a fairly flat and low-lying area, so there is not a lot of swift runoff that will carry it away. Actually quite the reverse: soil from other areas would be carried here. Wind erosion is not an issue either because it is in a forest and is protected. If it were to be eroded too much, much of my area would actually be underwater probably due to the fact that there's a creek nearby. It would wash away into the creek and thus widen the creek to a slower, shallower waterway. The presence of the soil in the stream would cause it to be muddy looking and would eventually wash into the Grand River (which is nasty and muddy looking anyway) and make it to Lake Michigan some day.

e) Soil texture affects and tells us something about soil makeup which tells us soil quality, which affects the type of organisms that can live in an area. This makes up a large part of classifying the basic ecosystems of the world, so it is very important!

Know your soil before doing agriculture or construction. The soil type varies from area to area, it is important to test the soil in right testing labs. In Chennai, we offer a wide array of testing services related to agriculture. For more details, visit @ www.tamilnadutesthouse.com/our-services/agriculture/soil-...

This soil type, with its small macro porosity somewhat hinders the movement of water, leading to large amounts of runoff, and flooding when excessive rain occurs.

Types of Organisms: Birds, Squirrells, chipmunks, deer, and possums.

These organisms add organic matter when they do their business which increases the nutrients in the soil, leading to good nutrients for the plants.

The soil is likely to be eroded due to its small particle size. This could lead to pollution in the water on site, filled with soil runoff.

My soil test concluded that my soil was sandy loam. This soil is good for absorbing water and nutrients and the water and nutrients do not pass through the soil too quickly. This type of soil is ideal for this area because of the water and nutrient retention.

Trees, plants, shrubs, A lot of bugs (ants, centipedes, rollie-pollies, spiders), birds, squirrels.

The plants and other vegetation draw a lot of the water and nutrition out of the soil through their roots. However; the plants and animals also add nutrients to the materials when leaves, twigs, feces, decay into the soil.

The soil I collected is likely to be eroded. It is right by the river bank, and when it rains the runoff can take the soil with it into the river. Loss of soil in this location would cause the trees to perhaps grow into and over the river. The soil would most likely settle along the bottom of the river, or be carried down river and be deposited. It would not have a huge affect on the river, but most of the affect would be on the river bank in which the soil was lost from.

Soil texture is very important in determining the types of plants and vegetation that are able to grow in an area. Its important also for determining water flow and runoff.

I believe the soil at my location was sandy loam.

a. My soil felt very nutrient rich, which I think may aid some water flow because this type of soil will have large amounts of nutrients and will be moist already, so water will flow to areas that are lower in moisture levels.

b. In my area, the types of organisms that exists are small animals (ie birds and squirrels), small, medium and large vegetation (plants and shrubs) and very large trees (50-100 feet tall). The area is by a lake, and thus is a breeding ground for mosquito and small insects.

c. Organisms around the area help give nutrients to the soil by digging into it (uprooting the "old" dry soil, and exposing the "fresh" nutrient rich undersoil. Also, by living in this area, the decay of animals and plants alike help to give nutrients back into the ground.

d. I definitely think this soil could be slightly eroded, because this area is between a river and a lake. With the rainy season in full swing, the soil is becoming very loose and moist, and with my area being semi-hilly, I believe some nutrients could be washed away into the river, and carried out of the area. However, since this area has so many large trees, I believe that regardless of the season, the ground soil has high amounts of nutrients, both at the surface and deep within its ground.

e. Soil texture will determine what plants and animals can be supported in a certain habitat. If the ground is too dry, certain types of trees will not grow, and thus certain animals will not be able to build their nests in the tree and thus will not reproduce in that area. Thus, there will be no new import of nutrients into the area and the area will remain dry and nutrient deficient.

My soil’s texture is a silty clay loam. It is not the most porous soil texture so it holds water rather well. Also, it holds more nutrients and humus than sandy soils. There were slugs, ducks, spiders, and worms in the area. Also, there were a few larger trees.The worms provide some aeration to the soil. The larger tree’s roots take nutrients from the soil as well as preventing the soil from eroding. The soil is not too likely to be eroded unless the river floods the area. Its loss would cause instability for the larger trees in the year. Also, it would be a habitat loss from the worms, slugs, and other bugs in the area. If the soil were to erode, it would erode into the river. It would affect the location it moves to by providing soil that has the ability to hold an abundance of nutrients. Also it filters water fairly well and provides a stable and hard pack for the ground.

As an ecologist it is important to think about how water and nutrients move through the soil. These factors dictate what kind of organisms can inhabit the area, and these factors also have some influence to the climate of the area. Soil texture is an important factor in determining a biome.

Edwin Richey, Extension Associate Professor, Economics of soil testing. Green Up (Aphids, soils, wheat, cover crops and more) was the second KATS (Kentucky Agriculture Training School) topic of the 2020 season on March 5, 2020 at the Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky.

My soil was loamy sand. Loamy sand has large particle size that makes it so it doesn't fit too closely together. This space in between particles allows for easy water flow. However, it also allows nutrients to pass quickly which could lead to leeching. Types of organisms present in the area that I collected the soil were earthworms, "potato bugs", and other small crawling insects. I think these organisms have a good affect on the soil quality by creating the organic aspect of the soil. These organisms can decompose the dead leaves and material on the ground giving the soil more nutrients. Also their matter would also contribute nutrients directly to the soil. The soil I collected is likely to be slightly eroded because my location kind of slopes down towards the river. When it rains the soil is probably carried down towards the water and sometimes probably washed into the river. The movement of the soil away from its current location would leave that area without as many nutrients.Because there are many leaves in the area and plenty of different organisms present, it would just be a matter of time before more soil would take its place. The location where it moved to would be given additional nutrients from the soil.

Zapatos del bailarín al son de la batidora!

The sandy loam allows for water to easily move because the particles are larger and do not “sit” very close together. This will allow for better nutrient movement in the soil. However, if the water passes too quickly, the nutrients will be leached from the soil.

The main organisms I found in the soil collection area were insects, but I did see a frog nearby. The other organisms in the area, such as birds and squirrels, pass through that area, but I didn’t see any at the particular time I was there. And of course there were trees and grasses everywhere, as the area is very densely populated with them.

The organisms contribute to soil quality in many ways. Some insects take in the dirt and matter to produce very organically rich material from their waste. When organisms die they contribute to the soil richness through decomposition. Bacteria and fungi also provide decomposition, which generates nutrients for absorption by other organisms and improves soil water retention. The trees also have a huge impact on the soil, as they are constantly taking in water and nutrients to stay alive.

The soil was collected from a very flat part of the entire area, rather than in or by the various ravines. Because the water isn’t constantly flowing downward and can collect in the location it falls, the soil in this area is not likely to be eroded. Its movement will be limited as there is no method for it to flow, such as hills or slopes. This allows the plants and organisms in this area to take full advantage of the water and the nutrients it will retain from little movement.

Edwin Richey, Extension Associate Professor, Economics of soil testing. Green Up (Aphids, soils, wheat, cover crops and more) was the second KATS (Kentucky Agriculture Training School) topic of the 2020 season on March 5, 2020 at the Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky.

a.At my site the soil is sandy loam.

b.Because my site’s soil is sandy loam, it doesn’t retain as much water as loamy soil would, however, it holds more water than a sandy soil would. Water flows slower in sandy loam but slower than sandy soil in sandy loam.

c.In this area there are plenty of bushes, trees, grasses, lichen, insects, gophers, and earthworms (and probably some others).

d.The plants take nutrients from the soil through their roots, however animals like gophers and earthworms add nutrients back to the soil as fecal matter. Other organisms, like lichen, can also add nutrients (like Nitrogen) back to the soil when they fall to the ground from the trees.

e.Because there are plenty of plants holding the soil in place, erosion (especially quick erosion) isn’t likely. If there was a lot of heavy rain causing lots of run-off, it could erode. This would create steeper areas and crevices for water drainage that would lead to the pond. Erosion of the soil into the pond would make the pond larger, but more shallow.

f.It’s important to think about soil texture because it’s important for knowing the flow of water and the types of organisms present. For example, when we look at salt marsh soil you see clay soil that is low in oxygen and holds large amounts of water because the water cannot drain through. This means that the plants that survive there have specific adaptations for dealing with lots of water and low oxygen, you can’t just plant a poppy field there because they wouldn’t survive.

Edwin Richey, Extension Associate Professor, Economics of soil testing. Green Up (Aphids, soils, wheat, cover crops and more) was the second KATS (Kentucky Agriculture Training School) topic of the 2020 season on March 5, 2020 at the Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky.

The soil I obtained from my capstone site would be classified as loamy sand. You can tell form the texture of the soil that it is a combination of sand, silt and clay. I found it to be pretty moist and I was easily able to roll it into a ball (pictured above). This rich soil is not tightly packed so water should be able to flow through it easily. Loam soil is great because it is able to drain soil as well as retain moisture. Nutrients in this type of soil can be held and used for all types of plants. Within the area where I collected the soil there were trees, small grasses, ants, small soil bugs, and decomposing leaves/organic matter. I would assume that the organisms within the soil use the retained moisture and nutrients in order to grow and live. This soil would not be easily eroded away. Many of the plants (trees, grasses, shrubs) within the area hold this soil together and that lessens the ability for it to be eroded. If the soil were to be easily eroded away than the nutrient within the soil would also be lost. This would in tern hurt the vegetation as well as the species that rely on the vegetation as food/shelter. If some were to be eroded it would end up on the edge of the wooded area at the bottom of a hill. The buildup of soils in the new area might lead to new plants flourishing. As an ecologist it is very important to think about soil texture to know how and why certain things grow in an area and how it affect the different organisms that live in a given area.

a) What type of soil is at your site?

-It seems like a Loamy sand depiction

b) How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?

-The soil's texture seems to be firm and easily mold together when moist, but may break apart easily when not that moist. This might hinder waterflow as water would make this sand more thicker and sticky over time. In the end, water would be inhibited in some senese.

c) What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?

-Warms, rollie pollies, beetles are in the area. This may indicate the semi-dry and moist environment that is around the soil.

d) What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?

-These organisms helps determine the overall health of the soil. If the soil is too moist or dry, there abundance would not be seen throughout. In the end, they help to sustain the soil and helps to decompose any necessary material (i.e. worms)

e) Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current

location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the

location it moves to?

-The soil can be eroded as decomposing material may be due to it. Also, there was a major flood in the park sometime last year, which could lead up to the erode idea. The loss affect would make the location more dryer than it is, making it harder to sustain certain organisms. The soil would erode towards the downhill portion or areas that are flat and the middle if not in the hillside areas. It's presence may cause a change in the soil composition and making it either more moist and dry overall.

f) As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture?

-As an ecologist, soil texture is important to get an understanding about the health of the ecosystem and environment. Soil that is kept at a healthy and low polluted state makes it more viable to organisms to live and thrive in, especially if that is their shelter and main area of survival. Soil texture lets us understand just how which factors are important when determining soil health; and ultimately ecosystem health.

Midwest Laboratories soil extraction laboratory is busy preparing samples for analysis

a. The soil's texture is a sandy loam. It is able to keep the shape of a ball, but as soon as I throw it up and catch it with my hand, the soil spreads.

b. The organisms present near the soil are worms, geese, ducks, swans, and fish in the pond nearby.

c. Worms affect the soil because they help water run through the soil since they are breaking it up by moving around in it, and they also provide the soil with nutrients through their droppings. I don't believe that the geese, ducks, and swans have much effect on the soil, but their droppings may provide the soil with nutrients as well.

d. Yes, this soil is likely to be eroded because it can be easily broken, and can easily be deposited to a new location because of its light texture. The movement of the soil would make it difficult for plants to grow in that current location, because the soil would cover newly forming plants. The elevation would also decrease, so more water would flow into this area. The soil would affect its new location by causing their to be higher elevations, and less water.

Questions:

1. The water is able to move through this soil fairly easily. This is because the type of soil is loamy sand, and it lets water and nutrients slip through the tiny little rocks that make up the sand.

2. There are lots of organisms in this area, as you can see in the picture, there is a fly. Various other insects also live in this area, birds live here as you can see by their footprints. Grass lives just a bit further back up the soil (not shown in picture).

3. The effect that these organisms have on the soil's qualities are movement, since the soil I found is not very stable and it moves easily. The birds, mainly ducks, that walk on this soil can easily move it just by their weight alone.

4. The soil I collected is likely to be eroded. It's loss would not affect the current location very much, since most of the organisms fly or like to live around the water, which is where this picture is taken. It would erode into the creek, where there is more of this soil underneath the water. It would not have very much of an affect on the location it moves to, other than it would move the nutrients with it.

5. It is important to think about soil texture, because there are many different organisms that live in various different textures of soil. Knowing about the type of soil you are working with can give you some background information on the types of organisms that most likely live in that environment.

a) My soil texture seems to be sandy loam which aids water flow and the movement of nutrients through the ecosystem. The soil is able to hold shape but also is loosely packed enough to allow the flow of nutrients and water explaining the extensive plant growth of the area.

b) The organisms in the area I collected the soil includes various plant species such as grass, flowering plants, and cattail stalks. The soil also contained many different insects, I felt kind of bad rolling their home into a ball.

c.) The plants extract nutrients and water from the soil decreasing the soil quality while the little insects help to air ate the soil by burrowing through it and decaying dead organic material increasing the quality of it.

d) My soil sample is likely to experience some degree of erosion which would result in the land washing away over time into the ponds. They ponds may decrease in clarity which could result in less sunlight penetrating the water and species that live within the pond may have a harder time surviving.

The soil at my site is loamy sand. This texture probably somewhat aids the movement of water and nutrient flow into the lake. The soil was fairly dry but there was a lot of underbrush where beetles and other invertebrates could be found. These organisms probably help to break down the leaf litter from the large trees around the area which increases the nutrient availability if the soil. The soil at my site is likely to be eroded, however there is a dense ground cover of small grasses and shrubby plants like wild strawberry which seem to help keep the soil intact. It probably erodes into the lake which moves nutrients into the lake but may also contribute to high levels of algal growth in the lake. This soil texture is important, particularly near a water body because it has good filtration qualities which would hopefully keep the lake water clean.

I did a soil test of my garden and just could not resist taking a picture of the results. It's like looking in to the soul of your garden. The results are a Neutral pH, medium potash, low nitrogen and medium phosphorous.

How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?

the clay loam of the soil feels as though water and nutrient movement would be fairly low due to the density of the soil.

What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?

Lily of the Valley, small saplings, rotting logs with small decomposers living there

What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?

I think the more the variety in organisms the smaller the particles in the soil may be. It is also very nutrient rich to promote more growth.

Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current

location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the

location it moves to?

Yes, because of the clay composition, the soil would likely erode into the stream that is in the basin of the area. If this kind of top soil was washed away, the underlying soil is prbably sandier and rockier, making less plants able to survive in that environment.

As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?

For plants to grow successfully, a good balance between waterflow and nutrient density needs to be maintained. There needs to be enough sand content for water movement, but also enough organic matter that holds nutrients.