Impacts of Earthworms on the Community Structure of Other Biota in Forest Soils

Interactions of the soil fauna, between both different faunal groups and soil microorganisms, are considered to be important in affecting soil processes (e.g., organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling) and in influencing the community composition of various groups of the soil biota (Seastedt 1984; Visser 1985). The ways in which these functional and community structure effects are achieved are by (a) comminution of and channelling in organic de­ bris, and mixing of organic debris and mineral soil; (b) grazing on microbial tissues; and (c) dispersal of microbial propagules (Visser 1985).