The importance of soil biota in maintaining ecosytem integrity is exam
ined by a review of studies of soil processes and soil biota in arid e
cosystems. In decomposition and mineralization processes, there is a t
emporal succession of microarthropod and nematode species. Tydeid mite
s are keystone species in the early stages of decomposition. Soil pore
neck size variation affects the spatial distribution of soil biota an
d requires that species differ in size to provide efficient processing
of organic matter. In arid ecosystems, the sub-set of soil biota that
is active at any point in time is determined by the soil water potent
ial and soil temperature. The structure of soil microarthropod assembl
ages is similar in several arid regions of the world and abundance and
diversity are directly related to quantity of litter accumulations an
d soil organic matter. The unique life histories and behavioural chara
cteristics of desert soil macrofauna (termites and ants) determine the
effects of these organisms on soil properties and soil formation. The
soil biota, by affecting the spatial and temporal distribution of ess
ential resources (water and nutrients), are essential to the maintenan
ce of the ecosystem integrity of arid ecosystems.