Growth,reproduction and litter and soil consumption by Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat |
| |
| Authors: | JP Curry T Bolger |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Agricultural Zoology, University College, Dublin 4, Ireland |
| |
| Abstract: | Ninety-one percent of Salix aquatica cv. gigantea litter disappeared within 6 months from experimental cages containing Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat, compared with only 28% when L. terrestris was absent. Litter consumption rate was 6–9 mg dry wt g?1 fresh wt day?1 in the field and 10–15 mg g?1 fresh wt day?1 in the laboratory at 15°C. Maximum growth rate in the field was 4mg fresh wt g?day? and 4.55 mg in the laboratory. Cocoon production in the field was 1.3worm?1 month?1 and 2.1 in the laboratory. Mean gut contents were 48-23 mg dry wt g?1 fresh wt over the size range 1–6 g fresh wt and gut transit time was 10h. It was estimated that a Lumbricus biomass of 100gm?2 could consume 1.34 kg soil m?2 yr?1. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
