Predation on earthworms by terrestrial vertebrates

摘要: The earthworm Lumbricus terrestris is widespread and abundant. Its biomass may reach 1000 kg ha −1, > 20 worms m −2 surface simultaneously at night. Earthworms are thus potentially available to subterranean predators, those that dig them up which catch on the surface. Earthworm tissue has a high protein content rich in essential amino acids (Sabine, Chapter 24). It contains considerable amount of fat variously estimated it 1.5%(Lawrence Millar, 1945),4.6%(French et al., 1957) 17.3 /~ (Durchon Lafon, 1951) this reflected energy about 22.24 kJg−1 dry wt, (Bolton Phillipson, 1976). This abundant food resource utilized by diverse predators for some seasonally principal food. feature diets hundreds species terrestrial vertebrates but adaptations these securing earthworms as prey have been studied very few them. chapter reviews (a) selection studies importance sympatric species, (b) investigated predation Lumbricus, (c) relationships between ecology behaviour social organization predators.