Effects of soil and leaf litter quality on the biomass of two endogeic earthworm species

Earthworms drive important ecosystem functions like decomposition and nutrient mineralization in many terrestrial ecosystems, which is why factors controlling their mass gain are of great scientific interest. We conducted a microcosm experiment using two common endogeic earthworm species (Aporrectodea caliginosa and Octolasion tyrtaeum) and two different soils (one from a beech-dominated forest and one from a mixed tree species forest in...