![]() We describe and analyze a set of similarly spectacular landforms in seasonal tropical wetlands. Their numbers are strong throughout their range-they’re even considered agricultural pests in some areas-and they have no special status.The formation, functioning and emergent properties of patterned landscapes have recently drawn increased attention, notably in semi-arid ecosystems. Impact on the EcosystemĮarthworms are a source of food for numerous animals, like birds, rats, and toads, and are frequently used in residential composting and as bait in commercial and recreational fishing. ![]() After a two- to four-week gestation period, the baby worms emerge. The sperm and egg cells are deposited inside the cocoon, and it is buried. Following mating, each worm forms a tiny, lemon-shaped cocoon out of a liquid secreted from its clitellum, the familiar-looking bulge seen near the first third of the earthworm’s body. ![]() They are hermaphroditic but do not self-fertilize. An earthworm can eat up to one third its body weight in a day. Earthworms are vital to soil health because they transport nutrients and minerals from below to the surface via their waste, and their tunnels aerate the ground. As they burrow, they consume soil, extracting nutrients from decomposing organic matter like leaves and roots. The worm’s first segment contains its mouth. They burrow during the day-typically keeping close to the surface-capable of digging down as deep as 6.5 feet. Night crawlers are so named because they are usually seen feeding above ground at night. ![]() These segments are covered in setae, or small bristles, which the worm uses to move and burrow. Earthworms’ bodies are made up of ring-like segments called annuli. Typically only a few inches in length, some members of this species have been known to grow to a serpentine 14 inches. They are indigenous to Europe, but are now abundant in North America and western Asia. The reddish-gray-colored common earthworm, often called a night crawler in the United States, is familiar to anyone with a fishing rod or a garden. ![]()
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