The potential of endogeic earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) to increase the accumulation of CO.sub.2./sub. in soil

0360059 - BC 2012 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Šimek, Miloslav - Pižl, Václav
The potential of endogeic earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) to increase the accumulation of CO₂ in soil.
Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae. Roč. 74, - (2010), s. 123-128. ISSN 1211-376X.
[Central European Workshop on Soil Zoology /10./. České Budějovice, 21.04.2009-24.04.2009]
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LC06066; GA AV ČR IAA600660605
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60660521
Keywords : soil zoology * ecology * ecophysiology
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour

A microcosm experiment was established in the field to determine whether the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny, 1826) can affect the accumulation of carbon dioxide in mineral loam-clay cambisol. The presence of earthworms increased the concentration of carbon dioxide at a depth of 15 cm in the soil and at the beginning of the experiment the difference between chambers with and without earthworms was significant. On the other hand, the presence of earthworms did not significantly influence the concentration of O₂ in soil air. Data suggest that A. caliginosa can increase, directly or indirectly, the production of CO₂ in soil and therefore it is likely that the presence of earthworms in the soil can increase fluxes of CO₂ from soils. It is hypothesized that the effect of earthworms on the enhanced accumulation of CO_.2 in soil was mostly indirect, due to the effects earthworms have on the soil microbial community.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0197701