Soil pH preferences and the influences of soil type and temperature on the survival and growth of Aporrectodea longa (Lumbricidae)The 7th international symposium on earthworm ecology · Cardiff · Wales · 2002

Belowground eco-restoration of a suburban waste-storage landscape: Earthworm dynamics in grassland and in a succession of woody vegetation covers

“…Earthworm catches are sensitive to moisture and temperature conditions of the soil. The absence of catches in autumn was consistent with the relatively high soil temperature (>20 °C) at this time ( Table 2 ), which was outside the optimum range of 10–15 °C for releasing the earthworms from dormancy and thrive ( Baker and Whitby, 2003; Lee, 1985 ). The autumn in 2010 was also relatively dry with rainfall events being few and far between ( Fig.…”

Global earthworm distribution and activity windows based on soil hydromechanical constraints

“…Regions with subzero 21 mean annual temperature (MAT) are marked in cyan. Regions where the soil pH is below 4.5 22 are indicated in magenta and regions where the soil sand content exceeds 80% 23 in yellow. For regions with pronounced seasonality, earthworms have developed ecological strategies to cope with periods during which soil mechanical conditions impede bioturbation (e.g., an extended period of dormancy 18,31 ).…”

“…Additional constraints such as permafrost soil and subzero MAT 21 preclude earthworm activity in large parts of the world. Despite evidence for soil acidity limitations (soil pH < 4.5) 22 , the global earthworm distribution was not overly sensitive to low values of soil pH 16 . The primary mechanism 14 that shapes earthworm occurrence appears to be driven by soil physical (hydromechanical) conditions; determined by soil moisture and earthworm physiological limitations in unfrozen soils.…”

“…Besides soil temperature, low soil pH has often been cited as being critical for earthworm habitat suitability 14 . We outlined global regions where soil pH is below 4.5 22 , 31 . Regions, where sand content exceeded 80%, were also considered as regions of impedance.…”

“…Soil and climatic information are used to predict the global distribution of habitats and associated temporal windows of bioturbation activity. Although soil moisture and soil type dominate earthworm burrowing potential, other factors such as temperature 21 , soil pH 22 , and high sand contents 23 were considered.…”