Earthworm feeding activity and development of the humus profile |
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Authors: | N Bernier |
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Institution: | (1) Museum National d‘Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire d‘Ecologie Générale, 4 avenue du Petit-Chateau, F-91800 Brunoy, France Tel: +33160479214; Fax: +33160465719; e-mail: jean-francois.ponge@wanadoo.fr, FR |
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Abstract: | Earthworm casts and digestive tract contents were simultaneously examined, using the same methods, in a recently formed humus
profile in a mountain spruce forest. Earthworm species had distinct diets and an earthworm foodweb could be distinguished.
Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea icterica were distinct from the other species examined: the former to some extent as a litter consumer, and both species because they
excavated mineral material which was deposited within new top layers of the mull humus. Aporrectodea nocturna and Aporrectodea caliginosa both had a non-specific soil feeding mode. Most of the species enriched the humus profile with amorphous organic matter finely
incorporated within a mineral matrix. Besides different food selection, a network of burrows was produced as a consequence
of the different burrowing behaviour of each earthworm species.
Received: 2 January 1997 |
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Keywords: | Earthworm casts Earthworm diets Food selection Humus profile Spruce forest |
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