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Biology and Ecology of Earthworms

  • Features the latest research on earthworms since the previous edition

  • Covers the current state of knowledge on some 3,000 earthworm species

  • Examines the importance of earthworms in the environment

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eBook USD 169.00
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Hardcover Book USD 219.99
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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. Earthworm Morphology

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 1-31
  3. Earthworm Physiology

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 33-54
  4. Earthworm Diversity, Dispersal and Geographical Distribution

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 55-80
  5. Earthworm Life Histories and Biology

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 81-108
  6. Earthworm Ecology: Populations

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 109-149
  7. Earthworm Ecology: Communities

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 151-190
  8. The Influence of Environmental Factors on Earthworms

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 191-232
  9. The Role of Earthworms in Organic Matter and Nutrient Cycles

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 233-274
  10. Interactions Between Earthworms, Microorganisms, and Other Invertebrates

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 275-301
  11. Earthworms, Soil Structure, Fertility, and Productivity

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 303-334
  12. Earthworms as Pests and Benefactors

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 335-370
  13. Earthworms in Environmental Management and Ecotoxicology

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 371-412
  14. Effects of Agricultural Practices and Chemicals on Earthworms

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 413-465
  15. The Use of Earthworms in Organic Waste Management and Vermiculture

    • Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon
    Pages 467-527
  16. Back Matter

    Pages 529-567

About this book

Biology and Ecology of Earthworms is established as a key valuable text for students of agriculture, soil science, and soil invertebrate zoology and ecology. This is the 4th Edition of the popular textbook which reviews all aspects of earthworm biology and ecology.  The book has been fully revised and updated throughout. Particular changes include: new treatments of earthworm taxonomy, diversity, migration and geographical distribution; interactions between earthworms and other soil organisms, especially microorganisms and soil-borne pests and diseases; as well as the importance of earthworms in organic waste management.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Entomology and Environmental Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

    Clive A. Edwards

  • College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, USA

    Norman Q. Arancon

About the authors

Clive A. Edwards was appointed as Chair of the Department of Entomology at the Ohio State University in 1985. He has published extensively on soil ecology, environmental toxicology, and sustainable agriculture, and he is currently recognized as a world authority on earthworms. His book, The Biology and Ecology of Earthworms, is the first comprehensive book on earthworms since Charles Darwin's The Production of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Earthworms which was published in 1881. In 1996, Professor Edwards's above book won a Presidential Citation from the U.S. Soil & Water Conservation Society. A prolific writer, he has published more than 450 scientific publications including writing, editing or co-editing more than 35 books. He remained a distinguished Emeritus Professor until his death in 2021.

Norman Q. Arancon is a faculty member of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Science Management at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He obtained M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio USA after Fulbright fellowship at The Ohio State University from 1997 to 2001. Together with Dr. Clive Edwards and his students at the Soil Ecology Laboratory, they pioneered research on vermicompost applications in the field using other commercially important vegetables to investigate their effects on chemical and biochemical changes in soils. He received Hawaii Legislature, Gubernatorial and Hawaii House of Representatives citations for his contributions in science and technology in 2012, 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access