The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits is an 1881 book by Charles Darwin on earthworms. It was his last scientific book, and was published shor
Piles of worm castings atop existing soil in a garden
His research included a railway trip to Stonehenge
A photograph of Darwin around the time the book was published
Earthworms mate in daylight, but are generally nocturnal above ground.
Bioturbation
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Bioturbation is defined as the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants. It includes burrowing, ingestion, and defecation of sediment grains. Bioturbating activities have a profound effec
The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms
…work that gradual changes over long periods of time can lead to large and sometimes surprising consequences. It was the first significant work on soil bioturbation, although that term was not used by Darwin (it first appeared in the soil and geomorphic literature one hundred years later). After returning from the…
Sediment on the left tusk of a walrus. Walrus bioturbations in Arctic benthic sediments have large-scale ecosystem effects.
The lugworm Arenicola marina
Gobies keeping watch outside a shrimp burrow
Pocket gopher mounds