Biology of Earthworms [electronic resource] /
Karaca, Ayten.editor.
Earthworms, which belong to the order Oligochaeta, comprise roughly 3,000 species grouped into five families. Earthworms have been called ‘ecosystem engineers’; much like human engineers, they change the structure of their environments. Earthworms are very versatile and are found in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. They play an important role in forest and agricultural ecosystems. This Soil Biology volume describes the various facets of earthworms, such as their role in soil improvement, soil structure, and the biocontrol of soil-borne plant fungal diseases. Reviews discuss earthworms’ innate immune system, molecular markers to address various issues of earthworm ecology, earthworm population dynamics, and the influences of organic farming systems and tillage. Further topics include the characteristics of vermicompost, relationships between soil earthworms and enzymes, the role of spermathecae, copulatory behavior, and adjustment of the donated sperm volume.
Description based upon print version of record.
Biology of Earthworms; Preface; Contents; Contributors; Chapter 1: Antimicrobial Vermipeptides: From Methods to Characteristics; Chapter 2: Optimizing Earthworm Sampling in Ecosystems; Chapter 3: Earthworms and Soil Structure; Chapter 4: Comparative Anatomy of the Calciferous Gland of Lumbricid Earthworms; Chapter 5: Reproduction of Earthworms: Sexual Selection and Parthenogenesis; Chapter 6: The Earthworm Inoculation Unit Technique: Development and Use in Soil Improvement Over Two Decades; Chapter 7: Controlled Cultivation of Endogeic and Anecic Earthworms
Chapter 8: The Meek Shall Inherit the Burrow: Feedback in Earthworm Soil ModificationChapter 9: Earthworm Interactions with Soil Enzymes; Chapter 10: The Impact of Cultivation Techniques on Earthworm Populations; Chapter 11: Assessing the Role of Earthworms in Biocontrol of Soil-Borne Plant Fungal Diseases; Chapter 12: The Use of Vermicompost Products to Control Plant Diseases and Pests; Chapter 13: Vermicompost as a Biological Soil Amendment; Chapter 14: Earthworm Innate Immune System; Chapter 15: Earthworms: A Potent Herbal Target for TCM (CAM) Research
Chapter 16: Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil QualityChapter 17: Application of Molecular Genetics to Earthworm Ecology: Current Research and Promising Future Directions; Chapter 18: Population Dynamics of Earthworms in Organic Farming Systems; Index
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Earthworms, which belong to the order Oligochaeta, comprise roughly 3,000 species grouped into five families. Earthworms have been called ‘ecosystem engineers’; much like human engineers, they change the structure of their environments. Earthworms are very versatile and are found in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. They play an important role in forest and agricultural ecosystems. This Soil Biology volume describes the various facets of earthworms, such as their role in soil improvement, soil structure, and the biocontrol of soil-borne plant fungal diseases. Reviews discuss earthworms’ innate immune system, molecular markers to address various issues of earthworm ecology, earthworm population dynamics, and the influences of organic farming systems and tillage. Further topics include the characteristics of vermicompost, relationships between soil earthworms and enzymes, the role of spermathecae, copulatory behavior, and adjustment of the donated sperm volume.
Ecology .
Agriculture.
Invertebrates.
Soil science.
Soil conservation.
Terrestial Ecology.
Agriculture.
Invertebrates.
Soil Science & Conservation.
Soil Biology