Interactions between earthworm species in artificial soil cores assessed through the 3D reconstruction of the burrow systems

摘要

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the interactions between different earthworm species on the individual burrowing activity and especially on the characteristics of burrow systems. Towards this end, individuals of different earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris, Aporrectodea giardi, A. caliginosa) were inoculated as single or paired species treatments into artificially packed soil columns. After 8 months, the soil columns were scanned by X-ray computed tomography. Three-dimensional skeletons of the burrow systems were then computed to characterise the burrow systems (burrow number, total and mean burrowed length, segment distribution in relation to depth, and rate of branching).