The quantity of live and dead organic matter in terrestrial ecosystems, as well as nutrient exchanges, is influenced by arthropod interactions with plants and microorganisms. Arthropods in the canopy have the largest impact on mobile elements including potassium, sodium, and chloride. whereas soil detritivores have an impact on the rate of mineralization of less mobile components nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium, for example. Nominal (baseline) herbivory and detritivory work together to accelerate nutrient cycling and decrease decaying crop residue which are plant-based materials.
