Earthworm Ecology

In this well-illustrated, expansive study, Edwards examines the important and often overlooked impact earthworms have on the environment. He discusses climate, soil properties, predation, disease and parasitism, and competition upon earthworm ecology.

Since the publication of the highly-successful first edition of Earthworm Ecology, there were two international symposia and an increased number of publications on the subject, demanding a revision of the book that addresses the most rapidly developing areas of earthworm research.Earthworm Ecology, Second Edition updates the most comprehensive work available on earthworm ecology with extensive revisions of the original chapters. This well-illustrated, expansive study examines the important, and often overlooked, impact earthworms have on the environment. It discusses the impact of climate, soil properties, predation, disease and parasitism, and competition upon earthworm ecology.New chapters analyze the history of earthworm research, the importance of earthworms as representatives of soil fauna and how they affect plant growth, the effects of the invasion of exotic earthworms into North America and other regions, and vermiculture and vermicomposting in Europe and Asia. This new material makes this volume an essential reference work for soil scientists, agronomists, and others with a great interest in earthworms.

INTRODUCTION The Importance of Earthworms as Key Representatives of theSoil FaunaClive A. EdwardsHow Earthworms Affect Plant Growth: Burrowing into the Mechanisms George G. Brown, Clive A. Edwards, and Lijbert BrussaardEARTHWORM TAXONOMY, DIVERSITY, AND BIOGEOGRAPHYPlanetary Processes and Their Interactions with Earthworm Distributions and EcologySamuel W. JamesThe Status of Earthworm Biogeography, Diversity, and Taxonomy in North America Revisited with Glimpses into the FutureJohn W. ReynoldsInvasion of Exotic Earthworms into North America and Other Regions Samuel W. James and Paul F. HendrixEARTHWORM BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND PHYSIOLOGYFactors Affecting the Abundance of Earthworms in Soils Jim P. CurryA Comprehensive Study of the Taxonomy and Ecology of the Lumbricid Earthworm Genus Octodrilus from the Carpathians Victor V. Pop and Adriana Antonia PopINFLUENCE OF EARTHWORMS ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DYNAMICS, NUTRIENT DYNAMICS,AND MICROBIAL ECOLOGY Effects of Earthworms on Soil Organic Matter and Nutrient Dynamics at a Landscape Scale over Decades Patrick Lavelle, Beto Pashanasi, Fabienne Charpentier, Cécile Gilot, Jean-Pierre Rossi, Laurent Derouard, Jean Andre, Jean-François Ponge, and Nicolas BernierIntegrating the Effects of Earthworms on Nutrient Cycling acrossSpatial and Temporal Scales Patrick J. Bohlen, Robert W. Parmelee, and John M. BlairEFFECTS OF EARTHWORMS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONQuantifying the Effects of Earthworms on Soil Aggregationand Porosity Martin J. Shipitalo and Renee-Claire Le BayonEffects of Earthworms on Soil OrganizationAndré KretzschmarINTERACTIONS OF EARTHWORMS WITH MICROORGANISMS, INVERTEBRATES, AND PLANTSFunctional Interactions between Earthworms, Microorganisms,Organic Matter, and PlantsGeorge G. Brown and Bernard M. DoubeImpacts of Earthworms on Other Biota in Forest Soils, with SomeEmphasis on Cool Temperate Montane Forests Dennis Parkinson, Mary Ann McLean, and Stefan ScheuEARTHWORMS IN AGROECOSYSTEMSManaging Earthworms as a Resource in Australian Pastures Geoff H. BakerEarthworms in Agroecosystems: Research ApproachesPaul F. Hendrix and Clive A. EdwardsEARTHWORMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Earthworms as Test Organisms in Ecotoxicological Assessment ofToxicant Impacts on Ecosystems Adriaan J. Reinecke and S.A. ReineckeEarthworms in Environmental ResearchHerman EijsackersEARTHWORMS IN WASTE MANAGEMENT The Use of Earthworms in the Breakdown of Organic Wastes toProduce Vermicomposts and Animal Feed Protein Clive A. Edwards and Norman Q. AranconThe Use of Earthworms: Nature's Gift for Utilization ofOrganic Wastes in Asia Radha D. KaleState of the Art and New Perspectives on Vermicomposting ResearchJorge Domínguez