Earthworm Ecology

"Earthworm Ecology, Second Edition: analyzes the history of earthworm research, the importance of earthworms as representatives of soil fauna, the effects of the invasion of exotic earthworms into North America and other regions, and vermiculture and vermicomposting in Europe, Asia, and the United States; highlights the critical beneficial role of earthworms for plant and soil health, and their important role in organic waste management; presents in-depth discussion of earthworm biogeography, diversity, taxonomy, and systematics; provides full coverage of earthworm feeding behavior, food preferences, dietary requirements, and interactions between earthworms and microbial communities; and includes information on the impacts of climate, human activities, soil properties, predation, disease and parasitism, and competition upon earthworm ecology."--BOOK JACKET.