Final answer:
Living organisms depend on soil for nutrient cycles and plant growth, showing a significant interdependence. Although aquatic organisms live in water, they are also connected to soil through nutrients carried by runoff and materials derived from soil ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interdependence of Living Organisms and Soil
Living organisms are dependent on soil as it plays a vital role in nutrient cycles that are essential for life. The organic matter in soil, which may be less than 0.1 percent of its total mass, greatly influences the weight of herbivores an area can support. This illustrates the heavy reliance of terrestrial life forms on the soil for their survival. Additionally, soil organisms are responsible for maintaining soil texture and fertility, which are indispensable for plant growth.
Contrarily, aquatic organisms might seem independent of soil, but this is not entirely the case. Even organisms that live in water depend on soil to some extent. Runoff from soil carries nutrients into bodies of water, which supports aquatic plant life and, subsequently, aquatic food webs. Furthermore, many aquatic organisms rely on materials that originate from soil for their habitat construction or for nutrients that are indirectly linked to soil ecosystems, highlighting the undeniable interconnectedness of all ecosystems.