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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 6043

Serge Martin and Patrick Lavelle; A simulation model of vertical movements of an earthworm population (Millsonia anomala Omodeo, Megascolecidae) in an African Savanna (Lamto, Ivory coast). Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1419-1424, 1992

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The conception and realization of the model DRILTROP originated from the will to synthesize the knowledge accumulated on dynamics and effects on soil properties of populations of Millsonia anomala. Gaps in our knowledge have been identified and new hypotheses regarding the role of earthworms in savannas have been formulated. Vertical movements of earthworms are determined by abiotic (i.e. soil moisture and temperature) and biotic factors (i.e. individual behaviour); these factors combine their effects to determine movements of the whole population. The relative contribution of these factors to the determinism of vertical movements have been calculated using mathematical optimization techniques. The effects of vertical movements and individual variability on dynamics of a population are discussed.