Lumbricus Terrestris
Lumbricus Terrestris - Related Videos
07:30
A Novel Behavioral Assay to Investigate Gustatory Responses of Individual, Freely-moving Bumble Bees (Bombus terrestris)
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Cited by 21 •
2016
A novel behavioral assay is described for investigating the short term gustatory responses of the mouthparts of freely-moving bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) toward nutrients and toxins in solution.
05:19
Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians
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2025
This is a method for sampling and isolating culturable bacteria from the cutaneous microbiota of European plethodontid salamanders (Speleomantes genus). Here, we present a protocol for sampling salamander skin with swabs and processing them using culturable approaches. We describe sampling, isolation, and establishment of axenic culture with bacterial strain characterization.
07:03
Analysis of Earthworm Populations in Soil
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Margaret Workman and Kimberly Frye - Depaul University Using mustard, Lumbricus terrestris earthworm populations can be sampled directly from soil depths without landscape disturbance or toxicity. Earthworms can then be counted for data and statistical analysis using a bar graph and student’s t-test. Monitoring earthworm populations is a vital technique for environmental scientists, as multiple species of earthworms (most notably those from the suborder Lumbricina) have...
10:14
Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area
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Cited by 3 •
2024
The protocol presented shows digital measurement and analysis of continuous leaf physiognomic traits on fossil leaves to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleoecology using the digital leaf physiognomy and leaf mass per area reconstruction methods.
01:22
The Sulfur Cycle
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2019
Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...
FAQs
Two linked pathways shape the soil environment: vertical burrows create channels through the soil, while casts add transformed organic material to surrounding layers. Together, these features connect surface litter inputs with deeper soil zones, changing where nutrients and organic matter are located. The resulting physical and chemical modifications can support plant access to resources while influencing water movement and aeration.
An anecic feeding strategy links two soil zones rather than concentrating activity at one depth. Lumbricus terrestris collects plant litter at the surface, then transports it downward through its burrow system. This vertical movement makes the species especially relevant to studies of surface-to-subsoil coupling, decomposition, and the redistribution of nutrients within temperate soils.
Land use, pollutants, and changing environmental conditions can alter the soil setting in which Lumbricus terrestris performs its ecosystem functions. Environmental studies therefore examine the species and associated soil changes across contrasting conditions, using it to assess whether processes such as nutrient cycling, infiltration, aeration, and decomposition remain functional. These comparisons help evaluate soil health under environmental change.
A useful assessment focuses on the soil properties and functions linked to its activity: porosity, water infiltration, aeration, nutrient cycling, structure, and chemistry. These features can be examined alongside the worm's presence or activity to connect biological observations with broader evidence of soil health. The approach treats the organism as part of an integrated soil-system assessment rather than an isolated measurement.
Environmental scientists may use Lumbricus terrestris when they need a biological perspective on soil condition alongside physical and chemical evidence. Its role connects organismal activity with land-use effects, pollutant impacts, and environmental change. This makes the species useful for evaluating how disturbances influence soil functioning and plant-supporting processes, especially where decomposition and nutrient cycling are important concerns.
In environmental sciences, the species helps link decomposition to plant productivity. Surface litter provides the organic input, downward transport redistributes that material, and digestion produces casts that modify soil conditions. Studying these linked effects shows how a soil organism can influence ecosystem-level processes, including nutrient availability and the physical environment that supports plant growth.