Basic Research Tools for Earthworm Ecology

Butt, Kevin R.; Grigoropoulou, Niki

doi:10.1155/2010/562816

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…Another aspect needing to be addressed is potential effects on earthworm migration. The reader is referred to Butt and Grigoropoulou [85] for information on how to properly address analysis of earthworm populations.…”

Section: Future Stepsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Biochar on Earthworm Populations: A Review

Weyers

Spokas

2011

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

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Despite the overwhelming importance of earthworm activity in the soil system, there are a limited number of studies that have examined the impact resulting from biochar addition to soil. Biochar is part of the black carbon continuum of chemothermal converted biomass. This review summarizes existing data pertaining to earthworms where biochar and other black carbon substances, including slash-and-burn charcoals and wood ash, have been applied. After analyzing existing studies on black carbon, we identified that these additions have a range from short-term negative impacts to long-term null effects on earthworm population density and total biomass. Documented cases of mortality were found with certain biochar-soil combinations; the cause is not fully understood, but hypothesized to be related to pH, whether the black carbon is premoistened, affects feeding behaviors, or other unknown factors. With wood ashes, negative impacts were overcome with addition of other carbon substrates. Given that field data is limited, soils amended with biochar did not appear to cause significant long-term impacts. However, this may indicate that the magnitude of short-term negative impacts on earthworm populations can be reduced with time.

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Section: Future Stepsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Biochar on Earthworm Populations: A Review

Weyers

Spokas

2011

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

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“…To better know E. eugeniae and to develop its lombriculture, several studies were carried out and aimed at describing the internal anatomy (DaDong et al, 2007;Butt and Grigoropoulou, 2010), the cycle of reproduction (Parthasaeathi, 2007;Sivasankari et al, 2013), growth and reproduction in various substrates (Coulibaly and Zoro Bi, 2010;Tahir and Hamid, 2012;Nayak and Sahu, 2013), and reproductive organs (Vijaya et al, 2012;Moraes et al, 2012). Lombriculture of E. eugeniae was carried out in several countries of the tropical area (Francis et al, 2003;Coulibaly and Zoro Bi, 2010;Tahir and Hamid, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Cow Dung and Manure of Laying Hens on Growth and Reproduction of Eudrilus eugeniae

Byambas

Lemtiri

Francis

et al. 2017

IJAB

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The objective of the current study was to compare the effect of cow dung and manure of laying hens, associated to one of the three carbon substrates, on weight and population of this worm. Each substrate was sown with twenty (20) adult worms, 0.7 to 1 g weight. The weight of worms was collected at the beginning and at the end of breeding. The number was collected weekly until 60 days of breeding. The average number of worms was multiplied by 2.38 (60±6.78 in cow dung, 40±6.81 in manure of laying hens and 43 ± 8.23 in control). The average weight of worms was 27.19±1.21, 24.41±1.20, and 22.41±1.44 g, respectively. These results suggest that cow dung is better than manure of laying hens for vermiculture of E. eugeniae.

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“…Samples of the orange-coloured mineral material (in the alkaline sites) had pH determined. ) were poured into the resulting hole and monitored for emerging earthworms [17]. Five replicates were sampled at each location to minimise damage to the area.…”

Section: Soil Fauna Communities In Selected Areas Under Contrasting Vmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworms and mesofauna from an isolated, alkaline chemical waste site in Northwest England

Butt

Briones

2017

European Journal of Soil Biology

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Post-industrial sites across Europe may have developed over periods in excess of a century, often leading to poor nutrient soils with noxious constituents and extreme pH values. One such site, Nob End (Bolton, UK), a toxic tip created in the 1800s from a sodium carbonate factory, represents an "island of alkalinity in an acidic sea" where the weathering process (from pH 12) has provided a suitable environment for a rich alkali-loving flora and hence, deserving its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Despite their importance, the belowground communities have not been investigated and for this reason, in this study, we explored how soil macro-and mesofauna communities respond to extreme pH values in a system that has also experienced recent changes in management practices. As expected, earthworms, mites, insects and woodlice numbers were significantly higher and the community diversity enriched at the (now pH 8) alkaline sites, whereas in areas where acidic boiler waste was historically deposited, enchytraeids, collembolans and dipteran larvae populations dominated the soil communities. Surprisingly, site management (cutting back of scrub) in the alkaline soil areas had a significant positive effect on soil macro-fauna by promoting numbers and biomass, but severely reduced the microarthropod populations. A transect investigation across an increasing pH gradient (from 4.5 to 8.0) was mirrored by a rise in earthworm numbers and species richness. Earthworms were further investigated surrounding the site, seeking potential sources of colonisation, with the majority of species at Nob End also present in adjacent non-industrially-influenced areas. This work demonstrates that soil fauna can ultimately colonise extreme edaphic conditions and these extreme environments have not prompted the development of specific faunal communities. As management of above-ground communities significantly influenced soil invertebrate communities, this could represent an important restoration practice to improve soil structure and fertility at this polluted site.

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Basic Research Tools for Earthworm Ecology

Cited by 33 publications

References 45 publications

Impact of Biochar on Earthworm Populations: A Review

Impact of Biochar on Earthworm Populations: A Review

Effect of Cow Dung and Manure of Laying Hens on Growth and Reproduction of Eudrilus eugeniae

Earthworms and mesofauna from an isolated, alkaline chemical waste site in Northwest England

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