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Earthworm burrowing behaviour in 2D terraria with single- and multi-species assemblages

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Abstract

Experiments were performed in 2D terraria to investigate the burrowing behaviour of different earthworm species from various ecological categories in single- and multi-species assemblages. The burrowing behaviour was quantified using image analysis software during a 2-week period. Terraria were found to reveal realistic impressions of the burrowing behaviour of various species according to the ecological classification of Bouché into epigeic, endogeic and anecic species. Results of the study also permit the recommending of classifying various earthworms as intermediate species, e.g. Aporrectodea longa as endo-anecic and Lumbricus rubellus as epi-endogeic. Burrowing activity of endogeic species was significantly reduced in multi-species compositions compared to single-species treatments. Moreover, burrowing activity of Octolasion tyrtaeum was significantly reduced in the presence of Lumbricus terrestris compared to the specific single treatment. This endogeic species profited from the burrowing behaviour, e.g. bioturbation, of L. terrestris, and as such this is circumstantial evidence for commensalism (species interaction, in which one partner benefits while the other is unaffected) between anecic and endogeic earthworm species. Simultaneous burrowing activity of a combined assemblage of both endogeic species, Aporrectodea caliginosa and O. tyrtaeum, was also significantly reduced compared with the particular single treatments. Thus, this seems likely to be a response of interspecific competition and trophic niche separation between endogeic species.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Susanne Kögel for her valuable help with these experiments. The helpful comments of three anonymous referees are gratefully acknowledged. The study was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Graduiertenkolleg 1319).

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  1. Universität Trier, FB VI-Bodenkunde, Campus II, Behringstraße, 54286, Trier, Germany

    Daniel Felten & Christoph Emmerling

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  1. Daniel Felten
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  2. Christoph Emmerling
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Correspondence to Christoph Emmerling.

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Felten, D., Emmerling, C. Earthworm burrowing behaviour in 2D terraria with single- and multi-species assemblages. Biol Fertil Soils 45, 789–797 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0393-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0393-8

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