1. living on or near the surface of the soil; relating to organisms that inhabit the upper layer of soil or leaf litter.
Usage: technical; biology; ecology

Examples

• Epigeic earthworms are commonly found in the leaf litter of forests.
• The epigeic fauna of the soil includes many small arthropods and insects.
• Epigeic organisms play an important role in decomposing organic matter at the soil surface.
• Researchers classified the beetle as epigeic because it was discovered in the top layer of humus.
• Epigeic species are typically more sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature than deeper-dwelling organisms.