Dr. Mark Hodson, Dept. of Soil Science, School of Human and Environmental Sciencies
University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading,BerKshire, Anglaterra

Sala de conferències de l'Institut Jaume Almera (CSIC)

Earthworms are the dominant macrofauna in most temperate and tropical grassland soils. They modify soil organic matter both chemically and physically, mix leaf litter with the soil, form and stabilise aggregates and generate soil porosity. They also influence other organisms such as plants, microorganismes and invertebrates. For these reasons, earthworms are considered ti be "ecosystem engineers"