Full TGIF Record # 35559
Item 1 of 1
Publication Type:
i
Refereed
Author(s):Brown, George G.
Author Affiliation:Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Title:How do earthworms affect microfloral and faunal community diversity?
Source:Plant and Soil. Vol. 170, No. 1, March 1995, p. 209-231.
Publishing Information:Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers
# of Pages:23
Related Web URL:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02183068
    Last checked: 10/14/2015
    Notes: Abstract only
Keywords:TIC Keywords: Distribution; Earthworms; Soil fauna; Soil flora; Flora; Microenvironments; Nematoda; Physical properties of soil; Soil morphological features
Abstract/Contents:"Much of the work regarding earthworm effects on other organisms has focused on the functional significance of microbial-earthworm interactions, and little is known on the effects of earthworms on microfloral and faunal diversity. Earthworms can affect soil microflora and fauna populations directly and indirectly by three main mechanisms: (1) comminution, burrowing and casting; (2) grazing; (3) dispersal. These activities change the soil's physico-chemical and biological status and may cause drastic shifts in the density, diversity, structure and activity of microbial and faunal communities within the drilosphere. Certain organisms and species may be enhanced, reduced or not be affected at all depending on their ability to adapt to the particular conditions of different earthworm drilospheres. A large host of factors (including CaCo₃, enzymes, mucus and antimicrobial substances) influence the ability of preferentially or randomly ingested organisms to survive (or not) passage through the earthworm gut, and their resultant capacity to recover and proliferate (or not) in earthworm casts. Small organisms, particularly microflora and microfauna, with limited ability to move within the soil, may benefit from the (comparatively) long ranging movements of earthworms. Microflora and smaller fauna appear to be particularly sensitive to earthworm activities, and priming effects enhancing nutrient release, particularly in casts, are common. Larger fauna such as microarthropods, enchytraeids and Isopods may be enhanced under some conditions (e.g., in earthworm middens), but in other cases earthworm activity may lead to a decrease in their populations due to competition for food (microbes and organic materials), and spatial and temporal changes in food abundance. Nevertheless, considering the presently available data, the beneficial interactions of earthworms and microflora and fauna appear to far outweigh the potential negative effects. However, much is still unknown regarding the interactions of earthworms of different ecological categories on the diversity and function of microfloral and faunal communities, and much more interdisciplinary research is needed to assess the potential role of earthworms in regulating the diversity of microflora and fauna in soil systems and the potentially beneficial or harmful effects this regulation may have on ecosystem function and plant growth in different ecosystems."
Language:English
References:173
See Also:Other items relating to: WORMS
Note:Figures
Tables
Graphs
ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Brown, G. G. 1995. How do earthworms affect microfloral and faunal community diversity?. Plant Soil. 170(1):p. 209-231.
Fastlink to access this record outside TGIF: https://tic.msu.edu/tgif/flink?recno=35559
If there are problems with this record, send us feedback about record 35559.
Choices for finding the above item:
Find Item @ MSU
MSU catalog number: SB 13 .P55
Find from within TIC:
   Digitally in TIC by record number.
Request through your local library's inter-library loan service (bring or send a copy of this TGIF record)