| .... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. | .............................................................................................................. |
| ... |  |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
EARTHWORMS by Clive
A. Edwards, The Ohio State University
Of all
the members of the soil food web, earthworms need the least introduction.
Most people become familiar with these soft, slimy, invertebrates
at a young age. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning that they exhibit
both male and female characteristics. They are
major decomposers of dead and decomposing organic matter, and derive
their nutrition from the bacteria and fungi that grow upon these materials.
They fragment organic matter and make major contributions to recycling
the nutrients it contains. Earthworms
occur in most temperate soils and many tropical soils. They are divided
into 23 families, more than 700 genera, and more than 7,000 species.
They range from an inch to two yards in length and are found seasonally
at all depths in the soil. In terms of biomass and overall activity, earthworms dominate the world of soil invertebrates, including arthropods.
| |
