We carried out mesocosm experiments using either the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris or the endogeic earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica and loam, silt loam and sandy loam soils to investigate the differing impact of these earthworm of different ecotypes on aggregate formation (percentage water stable aggregates, %WSA) and soil water holding capacity (WHC), two soil properties that underpin many of the ecosystem services provided by soils. Earthworms significantly increased %WSA (by 16–56% and 19–63% relative to earthworm-free controls for L. terrestris and A. chlorotica , respectively). For L. terrestris , this increase was significantly greater in the upper 6.5 cm of the soil where their casts were more obviously present. Allobophora chlorotica treatments significantly increased WHC by 7–16%. L. terrestris only caused a significant increase in WHC (of 11%) in the upper 6.5 cm of the sandy loam soil. Linear regression indicated a consistent relationship between increases in %WSA and WHC for both earthworm species. However, for a given %WSA, WHC was higher for A. chlorotica than L. terrestris likely due to the known differences in their burrow structure. Overall, earthworms increased soil %WSA and WHC but the significant species/ecotype differences need to be considered in discussions of the beneficial impacts of earthworms to soil properties.

中文翻译：

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不同蚯蚓生态型对水稳性团聚体和土壤持水能力的影响

我们使用 anecic 蚯蚓 Lumbricus terrestris 或内生蚯蚓 Allolobophora chlorotica 和壤土、粉砂壤土和砂壤土进行了中宇宙实验，以研究这些不同生态型蚯蚓对聚集体形成的不同影响（水稳定​​聚集体百分比，%WSA）和土壤持水能力 (WHC)，这两种土壤特性支撑着土壤提供的许多生态系统服务。蚯蚓显着增加了 %WSA（相对于 L. terrestris 和 A. chlorotica 的无蚯蚓对照，分别增加了 16-56% 和 19-63%）。对于 L. terrestris，这种增加在土壤上部 6.5 厘米处明显更大，在那里它们的铸件更明显。Allobophora chlorotica 处理显着增加了 7-16% 的 WHC。L。terrestris 仅导致沙壤土上部 6.5 厘米的 WHC 显着增加（11%）。线性回归表明两种蚯蚓物种的 %WSA 和 WHC 增加之间存在一致的关系。然而，对于给定的 %WSA，A. chlorotica 的 WHC 高于 L. terrestris，这可能是由于它们的洞穴结构存在已知差异。总体而言，蚯蚓增加了土壤 %WSA 和 WHC，但在讨论蚯蚓对土壤特性的有益影响时需要考虑显着的物种/生态型差异。terrestris 可能是由于它们洞穴结构的已知差异。总体而言，蚯蚓增加了土壤 %WSA 和 WHC，但在讨论蚯蚓对土壤特性的有益影响时需要考虑显着的物种/生态型差异。terrestris 可能是由于它们洞穴结构的已知差异。总体而言，蚯蚓增加了土壤 %WSA 和 WHC，但在讨论蚯蚓对土壤特性的有益影响时需要考虑显着的物种/生态型差异。