Biology and ecology of earthworms / Clive A. Edwards and Norman Q. Arancon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Edwards, C. A. (Clive Arthur), 1925- author.

Arancon, Norman Q., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Earthworms--Ecology.

Earthworms.

Earthworms--Classification.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (578 pages)

Edition:

4th ed.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Springer, [2022]

Summary:

This 4th edition updates research on some 3,000 species of earthworm, assessing their importance in forest and agricultural ecosystems, their 'sentinel' service in early warning of deteriorating soil quality, and their increasing role in biomedical issues.

Contents:

Intro

Preface

References

Introduction

Contents

Chapter 1: Earthworm Morphology

1.1 Segmentation

1.2 Chaetotaxy

1.3 Genital and Other Apertures

1.4 Clitellum and Associated Structures

1.5 Pigmentation and Coloration

1.6 Body Wall

1.7 Coelom (Body Cavity)

1.8 Alimentary Canal

1.9 Vascular System

1.10 Respiratory System

1.11 Excretory System

1.12 Nervous System

1.12.1 Fine Structure of the Nervous System

1.13 Reproductive System

Chapter 2: Earthworm Physiology

2.1 Respiration

2.2 Digestion

2.3 Excretion

2.4 Circulation

2.5 Nervous System

2.5.1 General Functions of the Nervous System

2.5.2 Reactions to Light

2.5.3 Chemoreception

2.5.4 Thigmotactic Reactions of Earthworms

2.5.5 Response of Earthworms to Electrical Stimuli

2.6 Water Relationships

2.7 Locomotion and Peristalsis

2.8 Regeneration

2.9 Transplantation

Chapter 3: Earthworm Diversity, Dispersal and Geographical Distribution

3.1 Systematic Affinities and Evolutionary Descent

3.2 Families, Genera and Species

3.3 Geographical Distribution, Earthworm Biography

3.4 Movement of Exotic (Peregrine) Species of Earthworms

Chapter 4: Earthworm Life Histories and Biology

4.1 Life Cycles

4.2 Earthworm Reproduction

4.2.1 Spermatogenesis

4.2.2 Oogenesis

4.2.3 Copulation and Fertilization

4.2.4 Parthenogenesis

4.2.5 Polyploidy

4.3 Quiescence, Diapause, and Estivation

4.4 Earthworm Growth

4.5 Behavior Patterns

4.5.1 Feeding Behavior

4.5.2 Earthworm Learning

4.5.3 Migrations

4.5.4 Luminescence

4.5.5 Diurnal Rhythms of Activity

Chapter 5: Earthworm Ecology: Populations

5.1 Sampling Earthworm Population

5.1.1 Handsorting

5.1.2 Soil Washing

5.1.3 Electrical Methods.

5.1.4 Chemical Methods

5.1.5 Heat Extraction

5.1.6 Vibration Methods

5.1.7 Counting Earthworm Casts

5.1.8 Mark and Recapture of Earthworms

5.1.9 Comparisons of Sampling Methods

5.1.10 Number and Size of Samples for Population Assessment

5.2 Size of Earthworm Populations

5.2.1 Numbers in Earthworm Populations

5.2.2 Biomass in Earthworm Populations

5.3 Population Structure: Age Distribution

5.4 Population Structure: Spatial Distribution

5.4.1 Horizontal Distributions

5.4.2 Vertical Distributions

5.5 Seasonal Populations and Activity

Chapter 6: Earthworm Ecology: Communities

6.1 Structure of Earthworm Communities

6.1.1 Major Ecological Groups

6.1.2 Species Diversity

6.1.3 Species Associations

6.2 Dispersal

6.2.1 Active and Passive Earthworm Dispersal

6.2.2 Introduction and Spread of Earthworm Populations

6.3 Predators, Parasites, and Pathogens of Earthworms

6.3.1 Predators

6.3.2 Parasites and Pathogens

6.4 Ecological and Physiological Energetics of Earthworms

6.4.1 Physiological Energetics

6.4.2 Ecosystem Energetics

Chapter 7: The Influence of Environmental Factors on Earthworms

7.1 Moisture

7.2 Temperature

7.3 pH

7.4 Aeration and Carbon Dioxide

7.5 Soil Type

7.6 Organic Matter

7.7 Food Supply

7.8 Interactions Between Environmental Factors

Chapter 8: The Role of Earthworms in Organic Matter and Nutrient Cycles

8.1 Fragmentation, Breakdown, and Incorporation of Organic Matter

8.2 Amounts of Organic Matter Consumed

8.3 Nutrient Cycling

8.3.1 Carbon

8.3.2 Nitrogen

8.3.3 Nitrogen Fixation

8.3.4 Effects on the C:N Ratio

8.3.5 Phosphorus

8.3.6 Other Macronutrients and Micronutrients

References.

Chapter 9: Interactions Between Earthworms, Microorganisms, and Other Invertebrates

9.1 Effects of Earthworms on the Numbers, Biomass, and Activity of Microorganisms

9.1.1 Microorganisms in the Intestines of Earthworms

9.1.2 Populations of Microorganisms in Earthworm Casts and Burrows

9.2 Importance of Microorganisms as Food for Earthworms

9.3 The Stimulation of Microbial Decomposition of Litter by Earthworms

9.4 The Dispersal of Microorganisms by Earthworms

9.5 Earthworm-Bacterial Symbioses in Nephridia

Chapter 10: Earthworms, Soil Structure, Fertility, and Productivity

10.1 Earthworm Burrows and Casts

10.1.1 Earthworm Burrows

10.1.2 Earthworm Casts

10.2 Effects of Earthworms on Soil Structure

10.2.1 Turnover of Soil by Earthworms

10.2.2 Breakdown of Soil Particles by Earthworms

10.2.3 Formation of Aggregates by Earthworms

10.2.4 Changes in Aeration, Porosity, and Drainage Caused by Earthworms

10.2.5 Effects of Earthworms on Soil Erosion

10.3 Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil Type

10.4 Effects of Earthworms on Plant Productivity

Chapter 11: Earthworms as Pests and Benefactors

11.1 Earthworms as Pests

11.1.1 Earthworms as Pests of Crops

11.1.2 As Pests of Grassland and Turf

11.1.3 Relationships with Plant Pathogens

11.1.4 Transmission of Animal Parasites

11.1.5 Adverse Effects on Soil

11.2 Earthworms as Benefactors Other Than in Soil Fertility

11.2.1 Interactions with Organisms that Promote Plant Growth

11.2.2 Production of Plant-Growth-Promoting Substances

11.2.3 Production of Biologically Active Materials by Earthworms

11.2.4 Other Beneficial Uses

11.3 Control of Earthworms

Chapter 12: Earthworms in Environmental Management and Ecotoxicology

12.1 Earthworms in Land Amelioration and Reclamation.

12.1.1 Introduction of Earthworms into Poor Pastures in New Zealand and Australia

12.1.2 Introduction of Earthworms into Reclaimed Dutch Polder Soils

12.1.3 Introduction of Earthworms into Poor Mineral Soils

12.1.4 Colonization and Restoration of Abandoned Mining Sites by Earthworms

12.1.5 Reclamation of Open-Cast Mining Sites by Earthworms

12.1.6 Earthworm Populations in Reclaimed Peat Sites

12.1.7 Methods of Improving Earthworm Populations in Forests

12.1.8 Earthworm Introductions into Soils in the Tropics

12.2 Earthworms as Indicators of Environmental Contamination

12.2.1 The Use of Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil Contamination

12.3 Earthworms in Soil Bioremediation and Detoxification

12.3.1 Bioremediation by Earthworms

12.3.2 Earthworms as Biomarkers and in Ecological Risk Assessment (Era) of Contaminated Sites

12.3.3 Earthworms as Biomarkers

12.4 Earthworms in Ecotoxicological Testing

12.4.1 Laboratory Earthworm Toxicity Tests

12.4.2 Bioaccumulation of Chemicals in Earthworms

12.5 Heavy Metals and Earthworms

12.5.1 Toxicity of Heavy Metals to Earthworms

12.5.2 Sublethal and Chronic Effects of Heavy Metals on Earthworms

12.5.3 Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Earthworms from Contaminated Soils

12.6 The Effects of Radioisotopes on Earthworms

12.7 Effects of Acid Deposition on Earthworms

Chapter 13: Effects of Agricultural Practices and Chemicals on Earthworms

13.1 The Effects of Cultivations

13.2 The Effects of Cropping

13.3 The Effects of Fertilizers

13.4 The Effects of Chemicals

13.4.1 Methods of Testing Effects of Chemicals

13.4.2 Earthworm Mortality from Chemicals

13.4.3 Uptake of Chemicals into Earthworms

13.4.4 Chronic and Sublethal Toxicity of Chemicals

Chapter 14: The Use of Earthworms in Organic Waste Management and Vermiculture

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Breakdown of Biosolids by Earthworms

14.3 Processing of Animal, Vegetable, and Urban Industrial Organic Wastes by Earthworms into Vermicomposts

14.4 Most Suitable Species of Earthworms for Processing Organic Wastes

14.4.1 Biology and Ecology of Earthworm Species Most Suitable for Vermicomposting

14.4.2 Food and Environmental Requirements of Different Earthworm Species That Can Process Organic Wastes in Vermiculture

14.5 The Use of Vermicomposts as Plant Growth Media and as Soil Amendments

14.5.1 Characteristics of Vermicomposts Produced by Earthworms from Organic Wastes

14.5.2 Growth of Plants in Vermicomposts and Mixtures of Vermicomposts with Other Plant Growth Media

14.5.3 Mechanisms by Which Vermicomposts Influence Plant Growth

14.6 Suppression of Plant Pathogens, Plant-Parasitic Nematodes, and Plant Arthropod Pests by Vermicomposts

14.6.1 Suppression of Plant Pathogens by Vermicomposts

14.6.2 Suppression of Arthropod Pests by Vermicomposts

14.6.3 Suppression of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

14.7 Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Vermicomposts ("Teas") on Plant Growth and in Suppression of Pests and Diseases

14.7.1 Effects of Vermicompost Aqueous Extracts ("Teas") on Plant Growth and Yields

Preparation of Aqueous Extracts

14.7.2 Suppression of Plant Pathogens by Vermicompost Aqueous Extracts ("Teas")

14.7.3 Suppression of Arthropod Plant Pests by Vermicompost Aqueous Extracts ("Teas")

14.7.4 Suppression of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes by Vermicompost Aqueous Extracts ("Teas")

14.8 Methods of Processing Organic Wastes with Earthworms

14.8.1 Low-Cost Indoor or Outdoor Floor Beds or Windrow Vermicomposting Systems

14.8.2 Batch Systems of Vermicomposting.

14.8.3 Domestic Vermicomposting Systems.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Edwards, Clive A. Biology and Ecology of Earthworms

ISBN:

0-387-74943-8