A mathematical model was established to describe ecological relationships in a continuous vermicomposting system. The distributions of organic matter, microbes and earthworms on non-dimensional specific growth rates were simulated. The range of specific growth rates were visualized utilizing three-dimensional reconstruction technology. The stability of a vermicomposting system was not influence...

Background, Aims and Scope. Endpoints in earthworm ecotoxicology scheduled in guidelines are mortality and reproduction rates. However, not only the direct influence of pollutants on population parameters but also changes in behaviour such as substrate avoidance can have an important impact on soil ecosystems. In practice two different avoidance response tests are applied in earthworm ecotoxico...

this study aimed to investigate the effects of tow nanoparticles (nps) on the absorption,accumulation, reproduction of the eisenia fetida. a 4×2×2 factorial experiment in a randomized completeblock design with three replications was conducted. the factors included in the experiment are the content ofnps at four levels (0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2gr/kg weight of substrate), the type of nps at two level...

Earthworms are essential detritus feeders that play a vital role in the process of decomposition of organic matter and soil metabolism. They are referred to as indicators of soil health. The complex process of partial breakdown of organic matter and mixing with mucous and gut microbial flora in the form of earthworm cast results in the enhancement of soil fertility status. They influence the so...

In order to test if the intestinal bacteria play an important role in antibacterial ability of earthworm, we chose Escherichia coli O157:H7, an anthropozoonosis pathogen, as a biological stressor and studied the change of intestinal bacteria community of earthworm by PCR-DGGE analysis. Results showed that the pathogen merely existed 1 3 days, then almost disappeared after through the earthworm’...

Twenty four study areas of three most widespread soil types (pebble rendzinas, typical brown soils and pseudopodzolic soils) all over Estonia were selected. In each group of soil type, eight fields were selected for studies in 2003–2004. The mean abundance of earthworm communities was the highest in pseudopodzolic soils (107.11±22.4 individuals per m) and lower in pebble rendzinas (47.94±11.25 ...