Basic Research Tools for Earthworm Ecology

Table 1

Recent British examples of earthworm density/biomass/community structure from sampling with the same techniques (digging and application of a mustard vermifuge).

Location	Habitat	Sampling date	Earthworm density (No m^−2)	Earthworm biomass (gm^−2)	Earthworm species	Dominant species	Reference
Aughton Woods, Lancs	Deciduous woodland	Oct 2006	37	29.8	Ach; Dr; Lt; Oc	Oc	[5]
Aughton Woods, Lancs	Pasture	Oct 2006	183	110.9	Ach; Ac; Al; Ar; Lr; Lt; Oc	Ac	[5]
Meresands Wood, Lancs	Dry Heathland	Oct 2001	167	75.0	Ach; Ac; Al; Ar; Et; Lc; Lr; Lt; Oc	Ac	[6]
Wistman’s Wood, Devon	Upland oak woodland	May 1999	13	9.3	Le; Lr; Dr	Dr	[7]
Down House, Kent	Pasture	March 2004	310	149.6	Ach; Al; Ar; Lr; Ot; Sm	Ot	[8]
Down House, Kent	Kitchen Garden	March 2004	715	261.0	Ach; Ac; Al; Ar	Ach	[8]
Isle of Rum, Scotland	Upland moorland	May 2000	9	3.0	Do; Dr; Lr	Dr	[9]
Malham Tarn, Yorkshire	Pasture	May 1998	291	86.1	Ach; Ac; Al; Ar; Do; Lc; Lt; Oc	Ach	[10]
Newton Rigg Farm	Winter Barley	April 2006	18	6.0	Ach; Al	Al	[11]
Newton Rigg Farm	Conservation Headland	April 2006	118	76.2	Ach; Ac; Al; Ar; Do; Lr; Oc: Sm	Al	[11]

Key: Ach: Allolobophora clorotica; Ac: Aporrectodea caliginosa; Al: Aporrectodea longa; Ar: Aporrectodea rosea; Do: Dendrobaena octaedra; Dr: Dendrodrilus rubidus; Et: Eiseniella tetraedra; Lc: Lumbricus castaneus; Le: Lumbricus eiseni; Lr: Lumbricus rubellus; Lt: Lumbricus terrestris; Oc: Octolasion cyaneum; Ot: Octolasion tyrtaeum; Sm: Satchellius mammalis.