Endogeic earthworm activities can strongly influence soil structure. Although soil microorganisms are thought to be central to earthworm-facilitated aggregate formation, how and where within the soil matrix earthworm-facilitated influences on soil microbial communities are manifested is poorly defined. In this study we used 16S rRNA gene-based terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T-RFLP)...

the effect of ethanolic extract of iranian green propolis, rosemary and earthworm meal to determine on performance, immune system and blood metabolites of japanese quail, using 160 mixed-sex quail chicks in a completely randomized design by four treatments (including ethanolic extract of propolis 0.1 percent, rosemary leaves meal 0.5 percent, earthworm meal 0.5 percent and control) and four rep...

When soluble earthworm cuticle collagen molecules are subjected to the shearing forces of a flow birefringence instrument, they are broken into particles approximately half the original size. The broken particles resemble vertebrate tropocollagen molecules in their hydrodynamic properties, in levorotatory powers, and in their appearance in the electron microscope. Most significantly, the broken...

The important role of earthworms in the biomagnification of heavy metals in terrestrial ecosystems is widely recognised. Differences in earthworm biomass between sites is mostly not accounted for in ecological risk assessment. These differences may be large depending on soil properties and pollution status. A survey of earthworm biomass and colonisation rate was carried out on dredged sediment-...

The invasion of exotic earthworms in previously earthworm-free areas eliminates the forest litter layer, alters the carbon and nitrogen cycles and reduces native plant cover. Humans are the principal agents of invasive earthworm dispersal, spreading worms both inadvertently through the horticulture industry, logging and road travel, and voluntarily through composting and the disposal of earthwo...

Objective: The protein quality of earthworm meal was evaluated and compared to that of soybean meal (SBM) in two experiments using broiler chicks.  Methods: The protein quality of earthworm meal was evaluated and compared to that of soybean meal (SBM) in two experiments using broiler chicks. Results: The results of experiment 1 indicated that there were no significant differences between earthw...

objective: the protein quality of earthworm meal was evaluated and compared to that of soybean meal (sbm) in two experiments using broiler chicks.  methods: the protein quality of earthworm meal was evaluated and compared to that of soybean meal (sbm) in two experiments using broiler chicks. results: the results of experiment 1 indicated that there were no significant differences between earthw...

Earthworm is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine. Previous studies on earthworm extracts have demonstrated its ability to improve haemostatic disorders[5] and stimulate wound healing[6]. In addition, higher concentrations of earthworm extracts are nontoxic and have excellent antiinflammatory and antipyretic properties[7]. Further researches have revealed the potential for using earthwor...

The diet of earthworms includes soil organic matter, soil microbes and other microfauna, but the relative contribution of these dietary components to earthworm nutrition is not well known. Analysis of fatty acid (FA) profiles can reveal trophic relationships in soil food webs, leading to a better understanding of the energy and nutrient flows from microbiota to earthworms. The objective of this...