Journal articles on the topic 'Earthworms'
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1
Ruiz, Siul A., and Dani Or. "Biomechanical limits to soil penetration by earthworms: direct measurements of hydroskeletal pressures and peristaltic motions." Journal of The Royal Society Interface 15, no. 144 (July 2018): 20180127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2018.0127.
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Burrows resulting from earthworm activity are important for supporting various physical and ecological soil processes. Earthworm burrowing activity is quantified using models for earthworm penetration and cavity expansion that consider soil moisture and mechanical properties. Key parameters in these models are the maximal pressures exerted by the earthworm's hydroskeleton (estimated at 200 kPa). We designed a special pressure chamber that directly measures the pressures exerted by moving earthworms under different confining pressures to delineate the limits of earthworm activity in soils at different mechanical and hydration states. The chamber consists of a Plexiglas prism fitted with inner flexible tubing that hosts the earthworm. The gap around the tubing is pressurized using water, and the earthworm's peristaltic motion and concurrent pressure fluctuations were recorded by a camera and pressure transducer. A model that links the earthworm's kinematics with measured pressure fluctuations was developed. Resulting maximal values of radial pressures for anecic and endogeic earthworms were 130 kPa and 195 kPa, respectively. Mean earthworm peristaltic frequencies were used to quantify burrowing rates that were in agreement with previous results. The study delineates mechanical constraints to soil bioturbation by earthworms by mapping the elastic behaviour in the measurement chamber onto the expected elasto-viscoplastic environment of natural soils.
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Wironen, M., and T. R. Moore. "Exotic earthworm invasion increases soil carbon and nitrogen in an old-growth forest in southern Quebec." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36, no. 4 (April 1, 2006): 845–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x06-016.
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To test whether invasion of exotic earthworms affects soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), we sampled the litter and upper mineral soil (to 30 cm) at a series of sites varying in their earthworm populations in an old-growth beechmaple forest at Mont St. Hilaire, southern Quebec. We measured earthworm abundance and biomass using hand-sorting and chemical extraction (allyl isothiocyanate) methods. They gave similar results, though there was evidence of size and species-specific biases. Abundance and biomass of the earthworms ranged from <10 to >100 earthworms·m2 and from <10 to 125 g·m2, respectively, and were correlated with distance from a nearby lake (negatively) and soil pH (positively). The presence of earthworms was associated with a decrease in the mass and thickness and an increase in the C/N quotient of the litter layer. There were no significant changes in C and N mass of the mineral soil between 0 and 10 cm, but the underlying layers (1020 and 2030 cm) in sites with >10 earthworms·m2 showed significantly (p < 0.05) greater concentrations and masses of both C and N than did sites with <10 earthworms·m2. The overall profile (litter plus soil to 30 cm) average C was 13.7 and 10.1 kg·m2 with and without earthworms, respectively, and the equivalent figures for N were 1.01 and 0.68 kg·m2. These results demonstrate that invasion of earthworms into deciduous forests affects both the litter and mineral soil, and sampling to a depth of 30 cm suggests that earthworm invasion (from <10 to >10 earthworms·m2) may increase overall C and N.
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Maslov, Mikhail, Angelika Astaykina, and Lev Pozdnyakov. "Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris Contributes Nitrous Oxide Emission from Temperate Agricultural Soil Regardless of Applied Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizer Doses." Agronomy 12, no. 11 (November 4, 2022): 2745. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112745.
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Agriculture is the main contributor to nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, but the emission intensity can be controlled by various factors, in particular, the activity of earthworms, one of the most common groups of soil invertebrates. We conducted an incubation experiment to evaluate N2O emission in earthworm soil samples compared to non-earthworm ones with applications of high (200 kg ha−1) and low (50 kg ha−1) mineral N fertilizer doses. We assessed the cumulative N2O emission, the dynamics of the soil dissolved organic carbon, and the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen content, as well as the number of nirK and nirS gene copies in bulk soil samples and in isolates from the earthworms’ gut. Our study showed a significant role of the earthworm activity in changing the intensity of N2O emission after the application of mineral N fertilizers. The main factor leading to an increase in nitrous oxide emission in the presence of earthworms is the stimulation of free-living soil denitrifiers by the organic matter of the earthworms’ excretions, as well as the thorough mixing of plant residues and soil. Contrary to our expectations, earthworms did not increase the representation of nitrite reductase genes in soil, although the earthworm’s gut can be considered as a refugium for denitrifiers. Our results indicate a possible risk of increased N2O emission from arable temperate soils with an increase in earthworm populations as the climate warms, even if application rates of mineral fertilizers are reduced.
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Rota, Emilia. "Early oligochaete science, from Aristotle to Francesco Redi." Archives of Natural History 38, no. 1 (April 2011): 136–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/anh.2011.0011.
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The paper reviews knowledge on earthworms from early classical times to the end of the seventeenth century. The Aristotelian view that these “imperfect” animals developed spontaneously from mud and lacked internal organs except the gut was not challenged until the late Renaissance but, by the end of the 1600s, it was overthrown. Aldrovandi and Mouffet presented field observations of sexual reproduction and specific habitat requirements. Willis demonstrated the complex internal anatomy of an earthworm. Finally Redi, based on numberless dissections, showed the existence of variations on that basic anatomical plan, which anyway remained distinct from that of parasitic worms. Through a series of controlled laboratory tests, Redi also proved that earthworms have a physiology of their own and are most sensible to water loss. In those same years, Swammerdam investigated earthworm cocoons nursing them in his room, and Tyson discovered earthworms’ hermaphroditism. Two significant interpretations of earthworm's locomotion, by Fabrici ab Aquapendente and Borelli, also belong to this period, but were both short-lived in their influence. An awareness of the ecological role of earthworms in pedogenesis and soil fertility did not emerge until the late eighteenth century.
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KAHNEH, Ehsan, Ahmad SHİRİNFEKR, Samar RAMZİ, and Korosh Majd SALİMİ. "Effects of long-term tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivation on the earthworm populations in northern Iran." EURASIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE (EJSS) 11, no. 3 (July 1, 2022): 234–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1070182.
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The earthworms’ abundance is usually one of the main indicators of healthy and productive soils. However, agricultural management practices affect the earthworm population and activities. Although there is a lot of information that shows the relation between land use/land cover change and earthworms activity, very little is known about these effects under tea cultivation. Thus the current study was done to determine the effects of long-term tea cultivation on the earthworm’s population and abundance in the tea plantations of Iran to distinguish effects of these practices on soil properties concerning earthworms. Hence, 58 locations of tea cultivations were randomly selected in Guilan and Mazandaran province. Earthworm were sampled by manually excavating and sorting four 30×30 cm pits by 30 cm deep in each location. Earthworms were enumerated in the field and taken to the lab for identification. Once identified, the earthworms will dry in the oven at 60oC for 48h and the dry weight registers. Some physicochemical properties of the mineral soils were determined in the laboratory. The finding indicated that the earthworms were only observed in the two from 58 locations: Bazkiagorab (Lahijan) and Shekarposhteh (Tonekabon). Three species as Perelia kaznakovi, Aporrectodea trapezoides, and Dendrobaena veneta were recorded from Bazkiagorab but only P. kaznakovi was identified in Shekarposhteh. The total population of all identified earthworms was 22 and 3 m-2 in the Bazkiagorab and Shekarposhteh, respectively. Results of the physicochemical analysis showed that 35% and 51% of the soils had a pH less than4.5 and organic carbon less than2%, respectively. Available phosphorus and potassium in 80% and 65% of the soils were less than 25 and 150 mg/kg, respectively. It can be concluded that monoculture and long-term tea cultivations had a negative effect on the earthworm population, in addition, it has strongly acidified the soil. It is recommended that native nitrogen-fixing trees mixed planted with tea, and more attention should be paid to nutrient Best Management Practices in tea plantations.
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Puhlick, Joshua J., Ivan J. Fernandez, and Jay W. Wason. "Non-Native Earthworms Invade Forest Soils in Northern Maine, USA." Forests 12, no. 1 (January 13, 2021): 80. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f12010080.
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Non-native earthworms can cause abrupt changes in forest ecosystems by altering soil properties and depleting or redistributing soil carbon (C) stocks. The forests of Northern Maine are often perceived as having winters that are too harsh to support earthworm populations and that earthworms are restricted to more southerly regions. In this study, we report the discovery of European earthworms at two research sites in Northern Maine. At one site, earthworms were only found across a portion of the forest, and the median organic (O) horizon C stock in the area with earthworms was 34% less than that of areas without earthworms. At a second site, earthworms were found across the entire 60-ha forest and the median O horizon C stock was 39% less than that of a similar forest without earthworms. Consistent with reports from other regions, areas with earthworms had no or minimal eluvial (E) horizons, while earthworm-free locations always had E horizons. Earthworm presence was always associated with a topsoil (A) horizon, reflecting mechanical mixing and organic matter processing by earthworms. This is one of the first reports of non-native earthworm presence in Northern Maine forests and monitoring changes in soil C will be important for determining rates of C sequestration in these forests. Warmer winter temperatures, particularly winter minimums, and greater annual precipitation will likely increase the success of new earthworm introductions across Northern Maine forests. Management actions that limit the transport of earthworms into earthworm-free areas should be carefully evaluated to minimize the potential for new introductions.
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Jody, Regina, Darmi Darmi, and Rizwar Rizwar. "Produksi Kotoran Cacing Tanah dan Hubungannya dengan Kelimpahan Cacing Tanah pada Ekosistem Alami dan Ekosistem Buatan." Bioscientist : Jurnal Ilmiah Biologi 12, no. 1 (June 30, 2024): 800. http://dx.doi.org/10.33394/bioscientist.v12i1.11550.
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The presence of earthworms in an ecosystem can improve soil quality through physical, chemical and biological properties. The activity of earthworms in producing feces also has an important role in increasing soil fertility. This research aims to analyze the production of earthworm feces and its relationship with the abundance of earthworms in natural and artificial ecosystems. Determining location points uses the Cluster Sampling method, namely natural and artificial ecosystems. Sampling of earthworms and their feces used the line transect method with a length of 100 meters and plots were created along the transect lines to observe the population and production of earthworm feces with 20 replicate plots at each location. Data analysis includes average feces weight, number of earthworm feces, and correlation analysis. Morphological data on earthworm droppings were analyzed descriptively. The results of this research show that in natural ecosystems there are 2 forms of earthworm feces, namely granular and globular types, whereas in artificial ecosystems there is only 1 form of earthworm feces, namely globular. Earthworm feces production is higher in natural ecosystems than in artificial ecosystems. The relationship between dung production (number of deposits and weight of dung deposits) of earthworms with the number and biomass of earthworms shows a significant relationship with a moderate correlation category (<1), while the relationship between earthworm density and worm biomass correlates significantly with a strong correlation category (1).
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Simon, T., and K. Barnes. "Olfaction and prey search in the carnivorous leech Haemopis marmorata." Journal of Experimental Biology 199, no. 9 (September 1, 1996): 2041–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.199.9.2041.
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Haemopis marmorata, the green horse leech, is carnivorous and readily eats earthworms. Using a Y-maze with flowing water, we show that specimens of H. marmorata are attracted to live earthworms. Ablating the dorsal lip, the presumed site of the chemoreceptors that this species uses in prey search, disrupts the ability of the leeches to find the earthworms in the Y-maze. Earthworm wash, a preparation of the collagen coating of earthworm skin, shock-induced earthworm secretion, mammalian blood and a salt­arginine mixture are not attractive to the green horse leech. The tails of freshly killed earthworms are attractive to the leeches, but tails from worms killed 8­12 h previously and stored cold are not. Our conclusion is that the earthworms produce a metabolite that attracts the leeches.
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Ma, Li, Ming’an Shao, and Tongchuan Li. "Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China." Sustainability 12, no. 16 (August 14, 2020): 6603. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12166603.
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Earthworms have an important influence on the terrestrial ecological environment. This study assesses the effect of different earthworm densities on soil water content (SWC) and evaporation in a laboratory experiment. Four earthworm densities (0 no-earthworm, control [C]; 207 earthworms m−2, low density [LDE]; 345 earthworms m−2, medium density [MDE]; and 690 earthworms m−2, high density [HDE]) are tested in soil columns. Results show that cumulative evaporation occurs in the decreasing order of densities: C (98.6 mm) > LDE (115.8 mm) > MDE (118.4 mm) > HDE (124.6 mm). Compared with the control, earthworm activity decreases cumulative soil evaporation by 5.0–20.9%, increases soil temperature to 0.46 °C–0.63 °C at 8:00, and decreases soil temperature to 0.21 °C–0.52 °C at 14:00 on the soil surface. Temperature fluctuations reduce with increasing earthworm densities. A negative correlation is found between cumulative soil evaporation and earthworm density (R2 = 0.969, p < 0.001). Earthworms significantly (p < 0.05) decrease the surface SWC loss (0–20 cm) soil layer but increase the subsoil SWC loss (60–100 cm) by adjusting the soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Earthworm activities (burrows, casts…) improve the soil water holding ability by adjusting soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Thus, the population quantity of earthworms may provide valuable ecosystem services in soil water and heat cycles to save water resources and realize sustainable agricultural development.
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Muhammad Faris bin Md Yusoff, Suhaizan binti Lob, and Nurul Faziha Ibrahim. "The Potential of Local Earthworms in Vermicomposting Goat Manure (GM) and Spent Coconut Flakes (SCF)." Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research 1, no. 4 (October 31, 2019): 19–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.46754/umtjur.v1i4.88.
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Vermicomposting is a process that involves biological, chemical and physical transformations of solid organic materials such as agricultural residues of plant and animal through the use of microorganisms and earthworms. There are three main classes of earthworms, and only those from one class are usually used for vermicomposting. However, mostly foreign earthworms are used in the setup. Foreign earthworms are more expensive and harder to obtain than local earthworms. This makes the local farmers reluctant to try since they are expensive. The difference in vermicompost using two species of epigeic earthworms, a local earthworm and a foreign earthworm (Eisenia fetida), and normal compost without any earthworms was measured in this study. Both species of earthworms were placed in identical vermibeds consisting of partially composted goat manure and partially composted spent coconut flakes (SCF) with the ratio of 5:1 respectively in terms of weight. The vermibed moisture content was maintained at 60 – 70% throughout the whole process. The end products showed a difference from one another. The E. fetida showed a better result compared to the local earthworms in terms of the nutrient content presence and the adaptability of the earthworms during the whole process. However, the end product from the local earthworms was still better compared to the normal compost without any earthworms.
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Ruchi, Agrawal, and Varshney Akash. "Comparative Study on Effect of Pesticides and Vermicompost on the Growth of Eisenia foetida." International Journal of Zoological Investigations 08, no. 02 (2022): 1015–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.33745/ijzi.2022.v08i02.119.
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Earthworms are important soil invertebrates and play an important role in improving soil quality. They act as nature´s best fertilizers and have beneficial role in the process of vermicomposting which is very useful in crop production. The Indiscrete use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides poses a threat to soil quality, crop production and also hampered the growth of earthworms. In the present study the impact of pesticides and vermicompost in potato crops field and on Eisenia foetida was evaluated. The study aimed to understand the effect of chemical and biological fertilizers on the life table attributes of earthworm, Eisenia foetida. Laboratory adapted Eisenia foetida were reared on artificial soil supplemented with chemical fertilizers and vermicompost. Changes in number and biomass of Eisenia foetida were monitored four times in various applications of pesticides and in vermicompost. Four pesticides that are commonly used in potato crops are Chlorpyrifos, Malathion, Carbofuran and Cypermethrin. Thus, the negative impact of these pesticides on Eisenia foetida and Potato crops has been reported when compared to the control (Vermicompost). The effect of Pesticides was noted in following order: Chlorpyrifos ˃ Malathion ˃ Cabofuran ˃ Cypermethrin. Application of Chlorpyrifos to the potato crop field harboring earthworms reduced the number of earthworms from 200 in the control group to 20 after 60 days of the application. The effect was more pronounced on the total biomass of the culture owing to the high toxicity of Chlorpyrifos. The Pesticides treatment decreased the percent survival of the earthworms by 70% and 40%, respectively. The number and biomass of Earthworm decreased on increasing the application of pesticides thus, reduces crop production. On the other hand, the vermicompost had a positive effect on the earthworm’s biology.
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Madjima, Soro Nounfro, Ehouman N’guetta Moïse, Toure Mamadou, Ouattara Noufou Doudjo, and Tiho Seydou. "Diversité Et Dynamique Des Communautés De Vers De Terre De Trois Formations Végétales Dans Une Savane Humide De l’Afrique De l’Ouest (Lamto, Côte d’Ivoire)." European Scientific Journal, ESJ 14, no. 27 (September 30, 2018): 281. http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n27p281.
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The maintenance and stability of many terrestrial ecosystems are in part related to the ecosystem functions and services of soil organisms. The present study aims to evaluate the influence of litter biomass produced by three types of vegetation in the Lamto reserve on the dynamics of earthworm community. Each vegetation formations has been subdivided into 3 parcels. These parcels were geo-referenced using a GPS and mapped using QGIS software. For each plot, 25 points were randomly selected using their GPS coordinates. The litters were collected by manual collection to evaluate their biomass. Monoliths of the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology) type were dug in order to collect the earthworms by direct manual sorting. Also, soil clumps were collected to determine the organic matter levels by the method of lossto-fire. In total, 12 species of earthworms belonging to 3 ecological categories were collected. The forest block had the highest density of earthworms with a predominance of epigeic earthworms followed by grassy savannah with a predominance of endogeic earthworms. The wooded savannah has the lowest density of earthworms with a predominance of anecic earthworms. In terms of species richness, the grassy savannah contained the greatest number of earthworm species followed by the wooded savannah and the forest block that had the same number of species. In the three vegetations formations, it was found that earthworm densities were correlated with litter biomass as well as organic matter levels (correlation between earthworm density and litter biomass: r 2 =0, 75; correlation between density of earthworms and the rate of organic matter: r 2 =0, 93).
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Melnichuk, Ryan D. S., Hüseyin Barış Tecimen, and Josef H. Görres. "Do the Invasive Earthworms Amynthas agrestis (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and Lumbricus rubellus (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity?" Soil Systems 6, no. 1 (January 18, 2022): 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6010011.
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The introduction of invasive earthworms initiates physical and chemical alterations in previously earthworm-free forest soils, which triggers an ecological cascade. The most apparent step is the shift in the herbaceous plant community composition. However, some species, such as Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit), persist where earthworms are present. It has been hypothesized that A. triphyllum produces insoluble oxalate, an herbivory deterrent, in the presence of earthworms. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of earthworm-induced changes in soils and the physical presence of earthworms on oxalate production. As such, a two-way factorial greenhouse trial was conducted using uninvaded soils to test this hypothesis for two invasive earthworm species (Amynthas agrestis and Lumbricus rubellus). The sequential extraction of oxalates in A. triphyllum corms was performed with absolute ethanol, deionized water, acetic acid and HCl, representing fractions of decreasing solubility. Earthworm presence increased water-soluble (p = 0.002) and total oxalate (p = 0.022) significantly, but only marginally significantly for HCl-soluble oxalate (p = 0.065). The corms of plants grown in soils previously exposed to the two species did not differ in oxalate production when earthworms were not present. However, the data suggest that earthworms affect corm oxalate concentrations and that the sequence of invasion matters for oxalate production by A. triphyllum.
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Kumar, Ravi, Girednra Kumar Gautam, and Aarti Chopra. "Pharmacological Activity of Earthworms." Science Progress and Research 1, no. 4 (October 5, 2021): 264–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.144.
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Earthworms have a significant role in soil structure and organic matter dynamics. They make up a considerable amount of macrofauna biomass and are a prominent component of soil fauna communities in most habitats. Soil structure, water flow, nutrient dynamics, and plant development are all influenced by earthworms. Earthworms have long been recognized for their medicinal benefits. Because earthworm tissues are a rich source of proteins, peptides, enzymes, and physiologically active compounds, extracts produced from them have been utilized to treat a variety of illnesses. Several investigations have found that earthworm extracts include a range of macromolecules with anti-oxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. Some of these efforts included the use of earthworm preparation in the wound healing process. Earthworms are utilized as a part of a nutritious diet in several nations. They have a great nutritional value because of the large percentage of different proteins in their bodies. In addition to human food, earthworms are used to feed animals (fish, chicken, etc.).
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Kumar, Ravi, Girednra Kumar Gautam, and Aarti Chopra. "Pharmacological activity of earthworms." Science Progress and Research 1, no. 4 (November 10, 2021): 357–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.140.
Full textAbstract:
Earthworms have a significant role in soil structure and organic matter dynamics. They make up a considerable amount of macrofauna biomass and are a prominent component of soil fauna communities in most habitats. Soil structure, water flow, nutrient dynamics, and plant development are all influenced by earthworms. Earthworms have long been recognized for their medicinal benefits. Because earthworm tissues are a rich source of proteins, peptides, enzymes, and physiologically active compounds, extracts produced from them have been utilized to treat a variety of illnesses. Several investigations have found that earthworm extracts include a range of macromolecules with anti-oxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. Some of these efforts included the use of earthworm preparation in the wound healing process. Earthworms are utilized as a part of a nutritious diet in several nations. They have a great nutritional value because of the large percentage of different proteins in their bodies. In addition to human food, earthworms are used to feed animals (fish, chicken, etc.)
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Amuza, Angela Cristina, Roxana Zaharia, Ionuț Leveanu, and Alin Georgian Gheorghe. "RESEARCH ON EARTHWORMS COMMUNITY IN AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN THE MOLDOVA PLATEAU." Romanian Journal for Plant Protection 13 (2020): 55–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.54574/rjpp.13.09.
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"Over the last 40 years, over-cultivation of the soil has led to the loss of about 30% of arable land worldwide destroying the micro- and macro-fauna that provides its life. Earthworms play an important role in soil formation contributing to the composition and functioning of its ecosystem. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of earthworm species in maize, rapeseed, soybean and barley crops in the Moldova Plateau (North-Eastern Romania) in 2020. The sampling consisted of 15 pits of 25x25x40 cm per crop. Five earthworm species belonging to three genera Aporrectodea, Eisenia and Dendrodrilus were identified. Most earthworms (adults and juveniles) were collected from maize crop (39.63%). In rapeseed crop were collected 30.18% of earthworms and in barley and soybean each 15.09% of earthworms. The most abundant species was Aporrectodea caliginosa nocturna with 37.71% of the total adult earthworms. This study reports the first data on earthworm fauna for the Moldova Region in North-Eastern Romania."
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Elmer, Wade H., and Francis J. Ferrandino. "Suppression of Verticillium Wilt of Eggplant by Earthworms." Plant Disease 93, no. 5 (May 2009): 485–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/pdis-93-5-0485.
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The role of earthworms in plant disease has received little attention. To address whether earthworms would affect the severity of Verticillium wilt of eggplant (Solanum melongena) in the field, we grew eggplants in experimental field plots that were naturally infested with Verticillium dahliae in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Three earthworm treatments were compared: (i) no treatment (untreated control), (ii) earthworm populations reduced via chemical eradicants (carbaryl or hot mustard) (reduced treatment), and (iii) earthworm populations increased by addition of adult Canadian nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris, 11 earthworms per m2) (augmented treatment). Compared to the untreated control, the estimates of the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) were reduced while estimates of the canopy growth curve (CGC) and the final plant weights were increased in plots augmented with earthworms in all 3 years. In 2 out of 3 years, eggplant yield (weight and number of fruit) was increased in plots augmented with earthworms. When a carbaryl drench was used to reduce earthworm numbers, the treatment resulted in plants with more disease than in the untreated controls in 2005. However, in 2005 and 2006, carbaryl-treated plants had larger CGC values and higher yield than in the untreated controls and were not significantly different from the augmented plots. When a hot mustard extraction procedure was used to reduce earthworm densities in 2007, plant growth, yield, and disease variables did not differ from the untreated control. Although the effects of reducing earthworms were variable and difficult to explain, our findings suggest that augmenting earthworm populations can suppress Verticillium wilt of eggplant, and strategies that increase earthworm numbers may contribute to disease suppression.
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Park, Jinseok, Jungmoon Ha, Woojoo Kim, Piotr G. Jablonski, and Sang-im Lee. "Assessing dietary specialization to inform the conservation of the fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), an endangered vermivore." PeerJ 12 (April 29, 2024): e17189. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17189.
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Quantifying the diet of endangered species is crucial for conservation, especially for diet specialists, which can be more susceptible to environmental changes. The vulnerable fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) is considered a specialist that primarily feeds its nestlings with earthworms. However, there have been few studies of the nestling diet provisioned by parents, and no assessments of earthworm proportion in the diet of adults. Our study aimed to fill these gaps, shedding light on crucial factors for conservation. Combining new observations with existing literature, we confirmed a consistent dominance of earthworms in the nestling diet, regardless of rainfall, nestling age, and time of day. We extrapolated the total earthworm consumption during a breeding event, accounting for potential variation in the availability of earthworms and their prevalence in the adult diet. We used literature-based earthworm densities in pitta habitats and our estimates of family earthworm consumption to calculate the habitat area that could provide a pitta family with the number of earthworms consumed during a breeding event. The predictions matched observed pitta home range sizes when assumed that the adult diet is comprised of approximately 70% earthworms. The results highlight the importance of earthworm-rich habitats for conservation planning of the fairy pitta. To mitigate the effects of habitat destruction, we discuss conservation practices that may involve enhancing earthworm abundance in natural habitats and providing vegetation cover for foraging pittas in adjacent anthropogenic habitats rich in earthworms. To guide conservation efforts effectively, future studies should investigate whether previously reported breeding in developed plantation habitats is due to high earthworm abundance there. Future studies should also quantify correlations between local earthworm densities, home range size, and the breeding success of the fairy pitta.
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Kochiieru, Mykola, Agnė Veršulienė, Kateryna Shatkovska, Virginijus Feiza, and Vytautas Seibutis. "Mechanism of Interaction between Earthworms and Root Parameters on Cambisol." Agronomy 14, no. 7 (July 15, 2024): 1536. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071536.
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Plants respond to their environment through adaptations; for example, earthworms that create heterogeneity can lead to local adaptation of roots. This research identifies a mechanism to explain plant responses to earthworms and how these mechanisms are related. Our results show that tillage intensity has a negative effect on earthworms and root volume. The mean root volume and earthworm biomass under conventional tillage were lower than in reduced tillage and no-tillage. The root volume and the root diameter in the field with residues were higher than in the field without residues, while the root length density and earthworm biomass in the field with residues were lower than in the field without residues. This study demonstrates that the mean of the root length density and biomass of the earthworms were higher in sandy loam than in loam. Therefore, sand content had a positive effect on root length density (R2 = 0.72, p < 0.01) and earthworm biomass (R2 = 0.74, p < 0.01). Earthworm biomass had a positive effect on root volume (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.05) and length density (R2 = 0.88, p < 0.01). This confirms our hypothesis on the effect of earthworms on root systems.
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Sari, Niken Puspita, Rahayu Widyastuti, and Soetanto Abdoellah. "Diversity and Abundance of Earthworms in Cocoa Plantations with Different Shade Trees." Pelita Perkebunan (a Coffee and Cocoa Research Journal) 37, no. 3 (December 27, 2021): 207–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.22302/iccri.jur.pelitaperkebunan.v37i3.483.
Full textAbstract:
Earthworm is one of the important macro-fauna in cocoa plantation ecosystem that affects the structure and activity of soil microbes. Earthworms maintain nutrient cycle and affect the growth of plants. Cocoa is a plant that requires shade trees. The presence of shade trees is to increase soil fertility and enrich diversity offlora and fauna. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of earthworms in cocoa farms with different shade trees, namely paranet, areca palm + leucaena, coconut + leucaena, oil palm + leucaena, and leucaena. The study was carried out in Kaliwining Experimental Station of Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Jember. Earthworms were picked manually to a depth of 30 cm by purposive sampling method from July to October 2020. The cocoa plants used were mature plants with a spacing of 3 m x 3 m. Based on Shannon and Wiener formula, the results showed that earthworm diversity was low in all treatments. Earthworms until family level were identified. Earthworm families of Glososscolicidae and Megascolocidae were found in this study. The highest abundance of earthworms was found in areca palm + leucaena. Soil organic C and N content and sand fraction were positively correlated with earthworm abundance, while silt fraction and soil density were negatively correlated with earthworm abundance. As micro-climate factor, light intensity was positively correlated with earthworm abundance, while air temperature was negatively correlated with earthworm abundance.
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Doube, BM, JC Buckerfield, and JA Kirkegaard. "Short-term effects of tillage and stubble management on earthworm populations in cropping systems in southern New South Wales." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, no. 7 (1994): 1587. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9941587.
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The effects of tillage and stubble management on the population distribution of earthworms were examined under wheat on a red-earth soil at Harden and under canola on a red-brown earth at Temora in the wheatbelt of southern New South Wales. At Harden, a five-year pasture had been followed by a conventionally cultivated oat crop in the year before the experiment. At Temora, a six-year pasture immediately preceded the experiment. Tillage treatments at Temora, and tillage and stubble treatments at Harden, were established during February-May 1990 and earthworm populations were measured in September. A number of earthworm species (Aporrectodea trapezoides, Microscolex dubius and M. phosphoreus) were present at both localities, but the introduced species A. trapezoides made up 97-99% of the earthworms collected. Earthworms were substantially more abundant at Temora (425 m-2) than at Harden (122 m-2). At Temora there was no effect of the intensity of tillage (4, 1 or 0 passes prior to sowing) on earthworm numbers. Earthworm densities were reduced in waterlogged soil. At Harden the direct-drill (DD) plots had a greater population density and biomass of earthworms and cocoons than the tilled plots. The size (mean weight) of adult earthworms, and the number of cocoons per adult, were also greater in the DD plots. However, no differences in earthworm populations were detected between minimum tillage (one cultivation prior to sowing) and stubble incorporation (three cultivations prior to sowing). On DD plots, burning stubble resulted in significantly smaller adult earthworms, a lower density of cocoons and a lower mean number of cocoons per adult than in the unburnt plots, but the differences in numerical abundance and in biomass were not statistically significant. Similarly, plots which had standing stubble contained fewer and smaller adults than those in which stubble was bashed and in close contact with the soil. There was a strong positive correlation between earthworm biomass and the amount of stubble present on the surface of the plots at the beginning of the winter (r2 = 0.64, P < 0 01). The contrasting effects of tillage at the two sites and the impact of stubble management on earthworms are discussed in terms of the effects of recent paddock history and management practices on the amount, quality and distribution of suitable organic food for earthworms. The influence of these factors is reflected in the number, biomass and reproductive performance of the earthworms.
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Booysen, Megan, Derek Sikes, Matthew Bowser, and Robin Andrews. "Earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) of Interior Alaska." Biodiversity Data Journal 6 (July 10, 2018): e27427. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/bdj.6.e27427.
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Earthworms in the family Lumbricidae in Alaska, which are known from coastal regions, primarily in south-central and south-eastern Alaska, are thought to be entirely non-native and have been shown to negatively impact previously earthworm-free ecosystems in study regions outside of Alaska. Despite occasional collections by curious citizens, there had not been a standardised earthworm survey performed in Interior Alaska and no published records exist of earthworms species from this region. Mustard extraction was used to sample six locations that differed in elevation, mostly in the College region of Fairbanks, Alaska. Two of the six locations yielded earthworms. There was no relationship between earthworm abundance and elevation (p = 0.087), although our sample size was small. Our sampling, combined with specimens in the University of Alaska Museum, has documented four exotic species and one presumed native species of lumbricid earthworms in Interior Alaska.
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Andleeb, Saiqa, Wajid Arshad Abbasi, Rozina Ghulam Mustafa, Ghafoor ul Islam, Anum Naseer, Irsa Shafique, Asma Parween, et al. "ESIDE: A computationally intelligent method to identify earthworm species (E. fetida) from digital images: Application in taxonomy." PLOS ONE 16, no. 9 (September 16, 2021): e0255674. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255674.
Full textAbstract:
Earthworms (Crassiclitellata) being ecosystem engineers significantly affect the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil by recycling organic material, increasing nutrient availability, and improving soil structure. The efficiency of earthworms in ecology varies along with species. Therefore, the role of taxonomy in earthworm study is significant. The taxonomy of earthworms cannot reliably be established through morphological characteristics because the small and simple body plan of the earthworm does not have anatomical complex and highly specialized structures. Recently, molecular techniques have been adopted to accurately classify the earthworm species but these techniques are time-consuming and costly. To combat this issue, in this study, we propose a machine learning-based earthworm species identification model that uses digital images of earthworms. We performed a stringent performance evaluation not only through 10-fold cross-validation and on an external validation dataset but also in real settings by involving an experienced taxonomist. In all the evaluation settings, our proposed model has given state-of-the-art performance and justified its use to aid earthworm taxonomy studies. We made this model openly accessible through a cloud-based webserver and python code available at https://sites.google.com/view/wajidarshad/software and https://github.com/wajidarshad/ESIDE.
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Ganault, Pierre, Johanne Nahmani, Yvan Capowiez, Nathalie Fromin, Ammar Shihan, Isabelle Bertrand, Bruno Buatois, and Alexandru Milcu. "Earthworms and plants can decrease soil greenhouse gas emissions by modulating soil moisture fluctuations and soil macroporosity in a mesocosm experiment." PLOS ONE 19, no. 2 (February 15, 2024): e0289859. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289859.
Full textAbstract:
Earthworms can stimulate microbial activity and hence greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. However, the extent of this effect in the presence of plants and soil moisture fluctuations, which are influenced by earthworm burrowing activity, remains uncertain. Here, we report the effects of earthworms (without, anecic, endogeic, both) and plants (with, without) on GHG (CO2, N2O) emissions in a 3-month greenhouse mesocosm experiment simulating a simplified agricultural context. The mesocosms allowed for water drainage at the bottom to account for the earthworm engineering effect on water flow during two drying-wetting cycles. N2O cumulative emissions were 34.6% and 44.8% lower when both earthworm species and only endogeic species were present, respectively, and 19.8% lower in the presence of plants. The presence of the endogeic species alone or in combination with the anecic species slightly reduced CO2 emissions by 5.9% and 11.4%, respectively, and the presence of plants increased emissions by 6%. Earthworms, plants and soil water content interactively affected weekly N2O emissions, an effect controlled by increased soil dryness due to drainage via earthworm burrows and mesocosm evapotranspiration. Soil macroporosity (measured by X-ray tomography) was affected by earthworm species-specific burrowing activity. Both GHG emissions decreased with topsoil macropore volume, presumably due to reduced moisture and microbial activity. N2O emissions decreased with macropore volume in the deepest layer, likely due to the presence of fewer anaerobic microsites. Our results indicate that, under experimental conditions allowing for plant and earthworm engineering effects on soil moisture, earthworms do not increase GHG emissions, and endogeic earthworms may even reduce N2O emissions.
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Ziemba, Julie L., Alex C. Cameron, Kim Peterson, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson, and Carl D. Anthony. "Invasive Asian earthworms of the genus Amynthas alter microhabitat use by terrestrial salamanders." Canadian Journal of Zoology 93, no. 10 (October 2015): 805–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0056.
Full textAbstract:
Invasive earthworms are rapidly transforming detrital communities in North America. Recent studies have investigated the effects of European earthworms, whereas Asian earthworms, such as species of the genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867, remain understudied. Amynthas is a surface-dwelling earthworm that voraciously consumes the litter layer of temperate forest floor habitats. The accumulation of detritus is important for the terrestrial Eastern Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818)) because this microhabitat provides the matrix through which salamanders travel when foraging, searching for mates, and dispersing. We examined the effect of Amynthas on the activity of “naïve” (no history of co-occurrence with Amynthas) and “experienced” (recent co-occurrence with Amynthas) salamanders in laboratory microcosms. We hypothesized that earthworms would disturb normal salamander activity through the reduction of leaf litter and physical impediment, with greater negative effects on naïve salamanders encountering this “novel” invasive species. Consistent with published studies, earthworm presence significantly decreased leaf-litter mass over time. Prior experience with earthworms did not appear to influence salamander response. However, earthworm presence had a significant effect on salamander activity, with salamanders exhibiting increased movement, cover-object use, and co-occurrence under cover objects with earthworms as the study progressed. Unnecessary movement has the potential to incur fitness costs to salamanders in the form of energetic expenditure and increased exposure to predators.
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Cray, Heather, Justin Gaudon, and Stephen Murphy. "Introduced earthworms (Lumbricidae) in restored and remnant tallgrass prairies of southern Ontario." Canadian Field-Naturalist 135, no. 3 (January 21, 2022): 234–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v135i3.2721.
Full textAbstract:
Introduced earthworms alter the trajectory and composition of plant communities, for example, through their feeding, burrowing behaviour, and interactions with seeds. High densities of several earthworm species may decrease native biodiversity and disrupt restoration efforts in tallgrass prairies. This affects efforts to conserve and restore such habitat, which is of high conservation and restoration priority in eastern North America and typically restored through seeding events. To date, Lumbricus terrestris (Lumbricidae) and other species have remained largely undocumented in tallgrass prairies. We surveyed 22 tallgrass prairie sites in southern Ontario, Canada, to document earthworm density and species. Lumbricus terrestris was found at all sites. The average density was 66 ± 91 (SD) earthworms/m2 across our sampling plots, mostly juveniles (~94%). The number of all earthworms per plot significantly increased with the number of earthworm middens in each plot (χ21 = 4.50, P = 0.034). Prairies with a large number of middens had high earthworm density, but middens alone appear to explain little variation in our data (linear mixed-effects model, marginal R2 = 0.12) meaning there are other biologically important factors that affect their density. However, we found no effects of soil pH, organic matter content, or texture on the number earthworms per plot suggesting that earthworms can invade a range of tallgrass prairie soils with pH values between 5.27 and 7.67.
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Saga, Nedy, and Kristono Fowo. "No-till farming activites in some Umanapu (agroforestry land) on earthworm diversity : a case study in Detusoko District, Ende Regency." Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea 11, no. 1 (March 31, 2022): 71. http://dx.doi.org/10.18330/jwallacea.2022.vol11iss1pp71-78.
Full textAbstract:
No-till farming (NTF) is an agricultural activity without tillage process, so it can minimize damage to soil structure, reduce erosion, and reduce the decrease in soil organic matter content related to the presence of earthworms. The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of no-till farming on earthworm diversity. Exploration of earthworms was carried out by hand sorting and monolith sampling methods in Umanapu (agroforestry) of Clove, Cocoa, Candlenut, Coffee and intensive tillage farms. The earthworms were identified by observing the morphology characteristics. In addition, the observation of biomass and population of earthworms, and environmental factors were also carried out. The results showed that there were four genera of endogeic and epigeic worms, namely Lumbricus, aMegascolex, Perithima and Pontoscolex. Diversity index (H'), maximum diversity (H'max) and species evenness (E) of earthworms in intensive tillage agriculture were low but in Umanapu of Clove, Cocoa, Candlenut and Coffee were moderate. The earthworm populations, earthworm biomass (g m2) and the ratio of biomass and population of earthworms (B/P) in Umanapu of Clove, Cocoa, Candlenut and Coffee were equal and significantly different from intensive tillage. The importance value index (IVI) in Umanapu of Clove, Cocoa, Candlenut, Coffee and intensive tillage agriculture were dominated by the Pontoscolex genus. In addition, the environmental conditions such as temperature and pH of soil at each location in Umanapu were not different, as well as the environmental temperature and humidity. NTF can maintain and sustain the existence of species, population and IVI of earthworms, so that soil biological properties are still maintained.
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Sebayang, N. U. W., T. Sabrina, and R. M. Sari. "Analysis the nutrient of bio-vermicompost with different techniques applications of some microbes and earthworms." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1059, no. 1 (July 1, 2022): 012024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1059/1/012024.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Vermicompost is an organic fertilizer resulting from the decomposition of organic materials by utilizing earthworms. The presence of these microorganisms means that vermicompost contains compounds that are needed to increase soil fertility or for plant growth. This study aims to analyze the nutrients of bio-vermicompost with a combination of application techniques of beneficial microbes and earthworms. This study used a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor is the application of microbes and earthworms with 4 treatments, T0: without earthworm, T1: application microbe followed (one week) by earthworm, T2: application microbe and earthworm in same time, T3: application earthworm followed (one week) by microbe. The second factor is the type of microbe with 4 treatments, M1: Azospirillum sp, M2: Azotobacter chroococum, M3: Trichoderma asperellum, M4: Talaromyces pinophilus. The results showed that the application technique had a significant effect on C-organic, C/N ratio, pH, P2O5, and K2O. The combination of both treatments significantly affect to the water content. The highest N was found in A3M1 (earthworm application followed by Azospirillum) which was 2.19%. The combination of A2M2 (Application of earthworms and Azotobacter at the same time) is the best combination in increasing the content of P2O5 (1.225%) and K2O5 (2.245%).
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Janković, Ljiljana, Brana Radenković-Damnjanović, Marijana Vučinić, Dragan Šefer, Radislava Teodorović, Milutin Đorđević, and Katarina Radisavljević. "Effects of Fish Meal Replacement by Red Earthworm (Lumbricus Rubellus) Meal on Broilers’ Performance and Health / Uticaj Supstitucije Ribljeg Brašna Brašnom Kalifornijske Gliste (Lumbricus Rubellus) Na Proizvodne Rezultate I Zdravstveno Stanje Brojlera." Acta Veterinaria 65, no. 2 (June 1, 2015): 271–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/acve-2015-0023.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract The research was performed to determine the nutritive value of raw earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) and dried earthworm powder, or earthworm meal (EM). In addition, the effects of a diet in which fish meal was substituted with EM or fresh earthworms on the health and productive performance of broilers were monitored. The experiment, which lasted 42 days, was conducted on one hundred Hybro G broilers divided into four equal groups. The control group was fed a standard feed, whereas, the first and the second one were given diets in which 50% or 100% of fish meal had been substituted with EM. The third experimental group received no fish meal but was given fresh earthworms ad libitum. The results of chemical analyses showed that earthworm meal contained 41.42% proteins (in dry matter) and satisfactory amounts of amino acids. Microbiological examination and tests for heavy metals suggest that earthworm meal and fresh earthworms did not contain heavy metals and harmful bacteria. Therefore, these feeds may be considered suitable for chickens. In the experiment as a whole no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the productive performance between the experimental groups of broiler chickens. These results suggest that dehydrated earthworm meal can be an adequate substitute for fish meal in the broilers’ feed.
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Dey, Animesh, and P. S. Chaudhuri. "Species Richness, Community Organization, and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Earthworms in the Pineapple Agroecosystems of Tripura, India." International Journal of Ecology 2016 (2016): 1–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3190182.
Full textAbstract:
The impact that plant communities may have on underground faunal diversity is unclear. Therefore, understanding the links between plants and organisms is of major interest. Earthworm population dynamics were studied in the pineapple agroecosystems of Tripura to evaluate the impact of monoculture plantation on earthworm communities. A total of thirteen earthworm species belonging to four families and five genera were collected from different sampling sites. Application of sample-based rarefaction curve and nonparametric richness estimators reveal 90–95% completeness of sampling. Earthworm community of pineapple agroecosystems was dominated by endogeic earthworms andDrawida assamensiswas the dominant species with respect to its density, biomass, and relative abundance. Vertical distribution of earthworms was greatly influenced by seasonal variations. Population density and biomass of earthworms peaked during monsoon and postmonsoon period, respectively. Overall density and biomass of earthworms were in increasing trend with an increase in plantation age and were highest in the 30–35-year-old plantation. Significant decrease in the Shannon diversity and evenness index and increase in Simpson’s dominance and spatial aggregation index with an increase in the age of pineapple plantation were recorded. Soil temperature and soil moisture were identified as the most potent regulators of earthworm distribution in the pineapple plantation.
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Dulaurent, Anne-Maïmiti, Guillaume Daoulas, Michel-Pierre Faucon, and David Houben. "Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) Mediate the Fertilizing Effect of Frass." Agronomy 10, no. 6 (May 31, 2020): 783. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060783.
Full textAbstract:
With the forecasted dramatic growth of insect rearing in the near future, frass (insect excreta) has been increasingly considered a sustainable resource for managing plant nutrition in cropping systems and a promising alternative to conventional fertilizer. However, the impact of soil fauna on its fertilizing effect has not been investigated so far. In this study, we investigated the effect of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) uptake and crop growth in the presence of frass from mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.). Using a pot experiment, we found that earthworms increased N, P, K and Ca concentration in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the presence of frass, suggesting that earthworm activity enhances the short-term recycling of nutrients from frass. Compared to treatments with and without frass and earthworms, the specific leaf area of barley was the highest in the presence of both earthworms and frass. This confirms that earthworms and frass have a synergistic effect on soil fertility. Overall, our study shows that earthworms may improve the efficiency of organic fertilizers and argues therefore for the importance of developing sustainable agricultural practices that promote earthworm populations.
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Saga, Agustinus. "Earthworm Diversity and Biomass in Different Fallow System in The Kelimutu National Park Areas." Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea 9, no. 2 (August 31, 2020): 133. http://dx.doi.org/10.18330/jwallacea.2020.vol9iss2pp133-141.
Full textAbstract:
Earthworms have a role as bioindicators so that their existence is very sensitive to changes in the environment. The decreasing of land quality caused by continuous use (horticultural agriculture) will also decrease the diversity of earthworms. To anticipate degradation of land quality, the land needs to be rested (bero) so that it will facilitate natural recovery. Indicators of land restoration include the diversity and importance index of earthworms. Therefore, the research aim was to determine the diversity of earthworm in the fallow system lands at Kelimutu National Park areas. The monolith random sampling method at three soil depths was applied to several fields with different fallow periods (5, 10, 15 and 20 years) to measure importance value index, diversity index, evenness, density, and earthworm biomass. The results showed that there were 4 types of earthworms found in the land given, namely Pontoscolex, Megascolex, Lumbricus and Perithima. Pontoscolex dominates which is indicated by the highest importance value index. While the diversity of earthworms was higher in fallow land with a duration period of 5 and 20 years. The duration of the fallow period is also shown to affect populations of earthworms but has no effect on its biomass. For soil depths not seen no effect at each depth. The results of this study further strengthen the evidence that the application of the bero period can improve land quality by increasing the earthworm population so that land productivity can be maintained.
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Mitra, Priyanka, and Nobuhiro Kaneko. "Impact of Aquatic Earthworms on Methane Emission Reduction from the Paddy Field Soil in Japan." Journal of Agricultural Science 9, no. 10 (September 13, 2017): 36. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n10p36.
Full textAbstract:
Methane (CH4) is one of the major greenhouse gases that significantly contributes to global warming. Therefore, substantial efforts are being made to reduce CH4 emissions. Paddy fields make a major contribution to atmospheric CH4 concentration because of their anoxic soil environment. Paddy field is habitat of many aquatic earthworms which can play a crucial role in reducing CH4 emissions from paddy field, because their bioturbation activities influence the soil structure and increase oxygen penetration and hence the activity of methanotrophs. Therefore, it was hypothesized that aquatic earthworms may accelerate oxidation of CH4 through their bioturbation activity. This incubation study evaluated the effects of earthworms on the activity of methanotrophs. Soil was incubated with a full factorial combination of two levels of aquatic earthworm (with and without earthworm) and two levels of fertilizer (with and without urea) for 35 days. The addition of urea increased the earthworm density in paddy soil by nearly doubled of without urea. At 28 days after incubation (DAI) the CH4 flux decreased from 2055 mg m-2 h-1 in only urea received soil to 425 mg m-2 h-1 in soil received both urea and earthworm treatment. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis showed that the presence of aquatic earthworms contributed to an increase in the biomass of methanotrophs. The study implies that aquatic earthworms may play vital role to reduce CH4 emission form paddy fields by creating favorable environment for methanotrophs, even in the soils fertilized with urea.
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Huang, Min Yi, Ren Yan Duan, Rui Juan Hao, and Li Ping Ren. "Toxic Effect of Cadmium Material on Eisenia fetida." Applied Mechanics and Materials 164 (April 2012): 272–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.164.272.
Full textAbstract:
Utilizing international standards organization published the earthworm avoid behavioral responses to evaluate the quality of the soil experimental method standardization, we test the effect of six different concentrations of cadmium on the behavior of response of the earthworms (Eisenia fetida). After 24 hour and 48 hour respectively, the number of earthworms in the different quantity of the soil was counted. And at the same time, the earthworms were used to do a try-wrong learning behavior experiment, to research the relation between the earthworms treated with different concentrations of cadmium and memory time. The results showed that the earthworms like to stay in 50 mg/kg concentration in the soil.
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Bhat, Sartaj Ahmad, Jaswinder Singh, and Adarsh Pal Vig. "Management of Sugar Industrial Wastes through Vermitechnology." International Letters of Natural Sciences 55 (June 2016): 35–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ilns.55.35.
Full textAbstract:
The present paper discusses the role of earthworms in recycling of sugar industrial wastes. The wastes generated from sugar industry are pressmud, bagasse, bagasse fly ash, sugar cane trash, sugar beet mud, sugar beet pulp, molasses etc. These wastes when mixed with other organic substrates become ideal mixtures for growth of earthworms. These wastes if stored in open field’s causes contamination in the environment and may cause several diseases in public health. But the governments have been unable to tackle the menace of solid waste pollution due to dearth of appropriate technologies, finance and space. Therefore, environment friendly and cost effective technologies for nutrient recycling or remediation of wastes are being advocated as an alternative means for conserving and replenishing natural resources of the ecosystems. Vermicomposting is one such technology that synergises microbial degradation with earthworm’s activity for reducing, reusing and recycling waste materials in a shorter span of time. Earthworm technology can convert sugar industrial wastes into valuable fertilizing material. The final product (vermicompost) produced during the process of vermicomposting is nutrient rich organic fertilizer with plant available nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. In the present study an attempt has been made to document the role of earthworms in reuse of sugar industry waste.
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Bhat, Sartaj Ahmad, Jaswinder Singh, and Adarsh Pal Vig. "Management of Sugar Industrial Wastes through Vermitechnology." International Letters of Natural Sciences 55 (June 3, 2016): 35–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.56431/p-jh3zmh.
Full textAbstract:
The present paper discusses the role of earthworms in recycling of sugar industrial wastes. The wastes generated from sugar industry are pressmud, bagasse, bagasse fly ash, sugar cane trash, sugar beet mud, sugar beet pulp, molasses etc. These wastes when mixed with other organic substrates become ideal mixtures for growth of earthworms. These wastes if stored in open field’s causes contamination in the environment and may cause several diseases in public health. But the governments have been unable to tackle the menace of solid waste pollution due to dearth of appropriate technologies, finance and space. Therefore, environment friendly and cost effective technologies for nutrient recycling or remediation of wastes are being advocated as an alternative means for conserving and replenishing natural resources of the ecosystems. Vermicomposting is one such technology that synergises microbial degradation with earthworm’s activity for reducing, reusing and recycling waste materials in a shorter span of time. Earthworm technology can convert sugar industrial wastes into valuable fertilizing material. The final product (vermicompost) produced during the process of vermicomposting is nutrient rich organic fertilizer with plant available nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. In the present study an attempt has been made to document the role of earthworms in reuse of sugar industry waste.
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Trakić, Tanja, Filip Popović, Jovana Sekulić, and Davorka K. Hackenberger. "Ecotoxicological Effects of Commercial Microplastics on Earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) (Clitellata; Lumbricidae)." Agriculture 14, no. 2 (February 7, 2024): 267. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020267.
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As soil invertebrates with a unique digestive system, earthworms are regularly used as bioindicators and test organisms. Due to their burrowing activity and casting, earthworms are involved in the structuring of the soil. However, this way of life exposes them to different pollutants, including microplastic particles. Although the use of plastics is economically justified, it has a major impact on living organisms. In this study, the influence of different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 7% (w/w)) of commercial glitter as a primary source of microplastics (MPs) on mortality, growth, cocoon production, avoidance behavior, and bioaccumulation ability during a four-week exposure of the earthworm species Eisenia fetida was investigated. The mortality was higher at 5% and 7% MPs in the soil than at 2.5% and in the control (0%) after 28 days, and the number of cocoons and growth rate decreased with an increasing MP concentration. However, the earthworms did not avoid the soil with MPs. Furthermore, the dissection of the digestive system enabled the identification of MP distribution. The sections of the digestive system were additionally examined under a fluorescence microscope. The results indicated that non-selective feeding enabled the input of MPs into the earthworm’s body and, thus, into food webs.
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Brantschen, Jeanine, Sebastian Gygax, Adrien Mestrot, and Aline Frossard. "Soil Hg Contamination Impact on Earthworms’ Gut Microbiome." Applied Sciences 10, no. 7 (April 8, 2020): 2565. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app10072565.
Full textAbstract:
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic heavy metals and is known for its persistence in the environment and potential to accumulate along the food chain. In many terrestrial polluted sites, earthworms are in direct contact with Hg contamination by ingesting large quantities of soil. However, little is known about the impact of Hg soil pollution on earthworms’ gut microbiome. In this study, two incubation experiments involving earthworms in soils from a long-term Hg-polluted site were conducted to assess: (1) the effect of soil Hg contamination on the diversity and structure of microbial communities in earthworm, cast and soil samples; and (2) how the gut microbiome of different digestive track parts of the earthworm responds to soil Hg contamination. The large accumulation of total Hg and methyl-Hg within the earthworm tissues clearly impacted the bacterial and fungal gut community structures, drastically decreasing the relative abundance of the dominating gut bacterial class Mollicutes. Hg-tolerant taxa were found to be taxonomically widespread but consistent along the different parts of the earthworm digestive tract. This study revealed that although Hg might not directly affect the health of macro-organisms in the food-web such as earthworms, their metabolism and legacy in the soil might be impacted through changes in their gut microbiome.
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Wang, Jian, Chenxi Yang, and Jingsi Li. "Population characteristics and influencing factors of terrestrial earthworms in Qinling Mountains." E3S Web of Conferences 338 (2022): 01036. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202233801036.
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Earthworms can have an important effect on a variety of processes that determine soil fertility and play a very important role in natural ecosystems. The biomass and density of earthworms in 4 different land utilize types in the Qinling mountains were investigated using the wet funnel method. The relationship between the characteristics of earthworm populations characteristics and environmental factors were analysed, and the significant differences in soil earthworm density (P < 0.05) and fresh weight (P < 0.05) were discovered under different land utilize types, and all showed the highest value in orchard land, followed by woodland and grassland, in addition, the lowest was discovered in cultivated land. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis indicate that soil earthworm population characteristics was strongly negatively correlated with soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), and strongly positively correlated with fine root biomass. The clarified relationship between earthworm population characteristics and soil physical and chemical properties will help qualitatively predict and evaluate the ecological functions of terrestrial earthworms in Qinling mountains.
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Evers, Andrew K., Tyler A. Demers, Andrew M. Gordon, and Naresh V. Thevathasan. "The Effect of Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestrisL.) Population Density and Soil Water Content Interactions on Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils." Applied and Environmental Soil Science 2010 (2010): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/737096.
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Earthworms may have an influence on the production ofN2O, a greenhouse gas, as a result of the ideal environment contained in their gut and casts for denitrifier bacteria. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between earthworm (Lumbricus terrestrisL.) population density, soil water content andN2Oemissions in a controlled greenhouse experiment based on population densities (90 to 270 individualsm−2) found at the Guelph Agroforestry Research Station (GARS) from 1997 to 1998. An experiment conducted at considerably higher than normal densities of earthworms revealed a significant relationship between earthworm density, soil water content andN2Oemissions, with mean emissions increasing to 43.5 gha−1day−1at 30 earthworms 0.0333 m−2at 35% soil water content. However, a second experiment, based on the density of earthworms at GARS, found no significant difference inN2Oemissions (5.49 to 6.99 gha−1day−1) aa a result of density and 31% soil water content.
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Merta, I. Wayan, and Ahmad Raksun. "The Effect of Adding Vegetable Waste to Feed on The Growth of Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus)." Jurnal Biologi Tropis 24, no. 2 (June 4, 2024): 382–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v24i2.6850.
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Earthworms are invertebrate animals that live in the soil and are hermaphroditic. This animal requires organic materials as food. Research on the analysis of the growth of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) due to the addition of vegetable waste to feed has been carried out in Pagutan Village, Mataram City. This research aims to analyze (1) the effect of adding vegetable waste to feed on the number of earthworms, (2) the effect of adding vegetable waste to feed on the total weight of earthworms, (3) the best dose of vegetable waste so that earthworms can grow optimally. The earthworm growth parameters measured were the total number and total weight of earthworms at the end of maintenance. Research data was analyzed using analysis of variance. In this study it can be concluded: (1) adding vegetable waste (spinach, water kale, mustard greens and lettuce) to feed can increase the total number of earthworms, (2) adding vegetable waste to feed can increase the total weight of earthworms, (3) giving 2 liters of vegetable waste provided better growth results for earthworms compared to other treatments.
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Jody, Regina, Darmi Darmi, Rizwar Rizwar, Jarulis Jarulis, and Risky Hadi Wibowo. "Perbandingan Struktur Komunitas Cacing Tanah Megadrilli pada Ekosistem Alami dan Ekosistem Buatan." Bioscientist : Jurnal Ilmiah Biologi 11, no. 2 (December 30, 2023): 1353. http://dx.doi.org/10.33394/bioscientist.v11i2.9262.
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Earthworms are an important component of soil ecosystems. The presence of earthworms in a habitat can enhance the quality of the soil, both in its physical, chemical, and biological properties. This research has the purpose to analyze the comparison of earthworm density found in natural ecosystems and artificial ecosystems. The determination of location points is done using the Cluster Sampling method, which includes both natural and artificial ecosystems. Sampling is conducted using the line transect method along a 100-meter length in 20 plots. The earthworm collection method involves the use of square and hand sorting methods. Data analysis includes density values, frequency, diversity index, and the Morisita index, as well as statistical analysis using an independent sample T-Test to determine the significance of the difference in earthworm abundance between the two locations. Five species of megadrillic earthworms were identified, classified into two ecological categories: epigeic and endogeic. In the natural ecosystem, there were five species, namely Pheretima capensis (epigeic), P. corethururus (endogeic), Pheretima sp.1 (epigeic), Megascolex sp. (endogeic), and Pheretima sp.2 (epigeic). Meanwhile, in the artificial ecosystem, three species were found, which are P. capensis (epigeic), P. corethururus (endogeic), and Pheretima sp.2 (epigeic). The density of megadrillic earthworms in the natural ecosystem (567.8 individuals/m2) is significantly higher compared to the artificial ecosystem (242.5 individuals/m2). The relative frequency of earthworms in the natural ecosystem is divided into 3 categories: Rare (Assesory), Common (Constant), and Very Common (Absolute), whereas in the artificial ecosystem, there are 2 categories: Common (Constant) and Very Common (Absolute). The diversity index of earthworms in the natural ecosystem tends to be higher (H' = 1.236) than in the artificial ecosystem (H' = 0.885). The distribution pattern of megadrillic earthworms in the natural ecosystem is clustered, while in the artificial ecosystem, it is random.
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Mashur, Mashur, Muhammad Roil Bilad, Hunaepi Hunaepi, Nurul Huda, and Jumardi Roslan. "Formulation of Organic Wastes as Growth Media for Cultivation of Earthworm Nutrient-Rich Eisenia foetida." Sustainability 13, no. 18 (September 15, 2021): 10322. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su131810322.
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Inadequate management of solid organic waste can lead to the spread of diseases and negatively affects the environment. Fermentation and vermicomposting of organic waste could have dual benefits by generating earthworm biomass for a source of animal feed protein, and, at the same time, turning the organic waste into readily used compost. This study investigated the effect of an organic waste source (as a sole source or blended with others) totaling 24 media for the cultivation of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Eight media sources were applied, namely cow manure, horse manure, goat manure, broiler chicken manure, market organic waste, household organic waste, rice straw, and beef rumen content. E. foetida was cultivated for 40 days, then the number of cocoons, earthworms, and the total biomass weight were measured at the end of the cultivation. Results demonstrated that the media source affected E. foetida earthworm cultivation. The most effective media were those containing horse manure that led to the production of the highest earthworms and the highest biomass. The produced cocoons and earthworms were poorly correlated with an r-value of 0.26 and p-value of 0.21. Meanwhile, the number and weight of the earthworms correlated well with an r-value of 0.784 and p-value of <0.01. However, the average numbers and weights of the produced earthworms in the media containing horse manure, cow manure, goat manure, and non-blended organic waste were insignificant. Overall results suggest that blended organic wastes can undergo composting to produce nutrient-rich earthworm biomass while turning the solid organic waste into readily used compost.
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McTavish, Michael, Alexandra Rossi, Robert Bourchier, and Sandy Smith. "Quantifying seeds egested by field-collected earthworms: a dynamic and overlooked pool in forest soil seed banks." Canadian Field-Naturalist 136, no. 3 (February 20, 2023): 262–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v136i3.2873.
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Although awareness of the influence of earthworms on soil seed banks in Canadian forests is growing, there have been few direct field measurements. We used a novel pairing of field-collected earthworms from a central Great Lakes forest in Ontario with a laboratory seed egestion assay to obtain a snapshot of the number of seeds passing through earthworms compared with seeds found in the surrounding soil. We identified a pool of seeds egested by earthworms that accounted for 2.4% of all seeds found in the earthworms and the top 0–10 cm of soil. Individual earthworms contained 0–5 seeds. The large-bodied adult anecic non-native Dew Worm or Common Nightcrawler (Lumbricus terrestris) egested a disproportionate number of seeds for its abundance (50% of egested seeds from 17% of earthworms), but smaller earthworms were also an important source of egested seeds (the other 50%). This small-scale proof-of-concept study demonstrates a method of directly measuring earthworm–seed interactions in the field. It can also detect seeds egested by earthworms below ground that would otherwise be missed by other seed accounting methods and it highlights the importance of granivory by non-surface casting earthworms.
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Wellnitz, Todd, Jenna L. Barlow, Cory M. Dick, Terrance R. Shaurette, Brian M. Johnson, Troy Wesley, and Evan Weiher. "Campsites, forest fires, and entry point distance affect earthworm abundance in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness." PeerJ 8 (February 25, 2020): e8656. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8656.
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Factors controlling the spread of invasive earthworms in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are poorly known. Believed to have been introduced by anglers who use them as bait, invasive earthworms can alter the physical and chemical properties of soil and modify forest plant communities. To examine factors influencing earthworm distribution and abundance, we sampled 38 islands across five lakes to assess the effects of campsites, fire and entry point distance on earthworm density, biomass and species richness. We hypothesized that all three parameters would be greater on islands with campsites, lower on burned islands and would decrease with distance from the wilderness entry point. In addition to sampling earthworms, we collected soil cores to examine soil organic matter and recorded ground and vegetation cover. Campsite presence was the single most important factor affecting sampled earthworm communities; density, biomass and species richness were all higher on islands having campsites. Fire was associated with reduced earthworm density, but had no direct effects on earthworm biomass or species richness. Fire influenced earthworm biomass primarily through its negative relationship to groundcover and through an interaction with entry point distance. Entry point distance itself affected earthworm density and biomass. For islands with campsites, earthworm biomass increased with distance from the entry point.
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Aladesida, A. A., and S. O. Owa. "Implications of ecological parameters on earthworm diversity and abundance in southwestern Nigeria." Zoologist (The) 19, no. 1 (June 12, 2022): 14–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v19i1.3.
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A survey on the diversity and abundance of earthworms in southwestern Nigeria was carried out. Earthworm and soil samples were collected from thirty different locations within the sub-region. Earthworms were identified and soil samples were analysed for mineral and metal loads, using standard procedures. Taxonomic analysis of collected earthworm samples revealed 24 species belonging to eight families namely Moniligastridae, Megascolecidae, Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae, Ocnerodrilidae, Eudrilidae and Almidae. These include some genera and species that are reported for the first time from Nigeria. Analysis of earthworm biomass showed that Libyodrilus violaceus had the highest biomass (104.4g/m2) while Hyperiodrilus africanus had the highest density (160 worms/m2). Earthworm biomass correlated negatively but significantly with pH (p<0.01). Analysis of earthworm abundance in relation to soil types indicates that E. eugeniae was present in all seven soil types studied, while only Alma millsoni and H. lagosensis can be used as indicators of ferruginous tropical soils and red-yellow ferralsols. Earthworms from this study revealed affinity for various combinations of sand and loam soils. The present results revealed a decline in earthworm abundance when compared with previous works. This work revealed the need to harness the habitat factors, which support earthworm abundance for use in both earthworm and soil conservation efforts.
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Prasetyo, Dedy, Dwi Imaria, Ainin Niswati, and Sri Yusnaini. "Effect of the 32nd-year Soil Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization on the Population and Biomass of Earthworm under Zea mays L." JOURNAL OF TROPICAL SOILS 26, no. 2 (May 31, 2021): 105. http://dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2021.v26i2.105-113.
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The abundance and biomass of earthworms are affected by soil tillage and fertilization. This research aimed to study long-term 32nd-year soil tillage and nitrogen fertilization on the population and biomass of earthworms under Zea mays L. The research was conducted using a randomized block design (RBD) which consisted of two factors. The first factor was the soil tillage that was Intensive Tillage (IT), Minimum Tillage (MT), and No-Tillage (NT). The Second factor was nitrogen fertilization that was N0 = 0 kg N ha-1 and N1= 200 kg N ha-1. Data of earthworm population and biomass were tested using analysis of variance and continued with the least significant difference (LSD) test at the 95% significant level. The population and biomass of earthworms at MT or NT were higher than IT. The population and biomass of earthworms in the plots without fertilization were higher than those at 200 kg N ha-1. There was an interaction between the soil tillage and N fertilization on earthworm biomass observed 60 days after planting at a 0-10 cm depth. There was a positive correlation between soil pH and earthworm population and biomass before the tillage phase.
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Park, Jinseok, Woojoo Kim, Jungmoon Ha, Sang-im Lee, and Piotr Grzegorz Jablonski. "Sundering of earthworms by the Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha): an unexplored strategy of prey preparation for brood provisioning by avian vermivores." Journal of Ornithology 163, no. 2 (December 18, 2021): 565–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01955-0.
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AbstractEcological specialists utilize a restricted range of resources and have evolved adaptations to exploit their specialized resources. For example, avian insectivores that feed nestlings with grasshoppers, beetles, or moths perform insect prey preparation before feeding nestlings so that the nestlings are able to swallow the prey. This behavior is generally not expected for soft prey such as earthworms. However, an overview of photographic evidence available online suggested that earthworms are sundered by parents before bringing the prey to the nestlings in a range of species from several families of vermivores worldwide. Reports on the provisioning of nestlings by the vermivores are relatively scant and no report on earthworm sundering has been published. We studied earthworm sundering performed by parents provisioning their broods at four nests of the Fairy Pitta in Korea. The birds sundered earthworms more often when nestlings were smaller and when the earthworm was longer. This is the first quantitative description of earthworm sundering in avian vermivores. We present and evaluate four hypotheses for the function of sundering: provisioning of small nestlings, decreased detectability, hunting multiple prey, and transport of prey. Among these, provisioning of small nestlings seems the most feasible explanation of sundering by the Fairy Pitta as sundering the earthworm allows parents to efficiently provision the younger/smaller nestlings who would have difficulties swallowing unsundered earthworms. This specialized prey preparation technique of vermivores suggests a tight adaptive match between their parental behaviors and their diet (vermivory).
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Florian, Faber, Wachter Elisabeth, and Zaller Johann G. "Earthworms are little affected by reduced soil tillage methods in vineyards." Plant, Soil and Environment 63, No. 6 (June 14, 2017): 257–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/160/2017-pse.
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Inter-rows in vineyards are commonly tilled in order to control weeds and/or to conserve water. While impacts of tillage on earthworms are well studied in arable systems, very little is known from vineyards. In an experimental vineyard, the impact of four reduced tillage methods on earthworms was examined: rotary hoeing, rotary harrowing, grubbing and no tillage. According to an erosion prevention programme, tillage was applied every other inter-row only while alternating rows retained vegetated. Earthworms were extracted from the treated inter-rows 10, 36, 162 and 188 days after tillage. Across dates, tillage methods had no effect on overall earthworm densities or biomass. Considering each sampling date separately, earthworm densities were affected only at day 36 after tillage leading to lower densities under rotary hoeing (150.7 ± 42.5 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) and no tillage (117.3 ± 24.8 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) than under rotary harrowing (340.0 ± 87.4 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) and grubbing (242.7 ± 43.9 worms/m<sup>2</sup>). Time since tillage significantly increased earthworm densities or biomass, and affected soil moisture and temperature. Across sampling dates, earthworm densities correlated positively with soil moisture and negatively with soil temperature; individual earthworm mass increased with increasing time since tillage. It was concluded that reduced tillage in vineyards has little impact on earthworms when applied in spring under dry soil conditions.
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Gupta, Aman Kumar, Ashish Chaudhary, Bipin Panthi, Avdhesh Kumar Chaudhary, Era Gautam, and Sirpat Badhai. "VERMICOMPOSTING." INWASCON Technology Magazine 4 (2022): 29–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.26480/itechmag.04.2022.29.30.
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Vermicomposting is a method of composting by using earthworms, in this process earthworms eat biodegradable wastes (Such as vegetables and fruits peels), and they break down these natural materials into organic fertilizer. Vermicompost is generally used for organic farming and also maintains the health of the soil. The amount of Nitrogen is more as compared to Phosphorus and Potash in vermicompost. Vermicompost doesn’t harmful to the soil and also helps in increasing the nutrient content of the soil. The life of earthworms is 4 - 8 years depending upon the species. The nutrients contents like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc are found in vermicompost. Endozoic earthworms are found in a deep layer of soil and they eat 90 % soil and 10 % organic matter. Epizoic earthworms are found on the surface ofthe soil and they eat 10 % soil and 90 % organic matter. Epizoic earthworms are famous for vermicomposting because they produce more vermicompost as compared to Endozoic earthworms. The weight of earthworms is between 0.5 to 0.6 g. one kg earthworm produces 0.8-7 kg vermicompost per day.