Welcome to The Earthworm Research Group

Research relating to the biology and ecology of earthworms is an extremely active and expanding area of scientific study. Charles Darwin, through simple observations, recognised the significant role of earthworms in soil formation, and posed some very fundamental questions. Subsequent research centred on physiological, morphological and behavioural studies and an increased awareness of the earthworm’s role in soil fertility fuelled significant agricultural research.

A Guide to Common British Earthworm Species - New Online Resource

The ERG has has designed an online resource to provide information and assist in field identification of common British earthworm species. It uses features (e.g. external colour and body shape) visible to the naked eye. The resource has species fact files containing colour photographs, habitat preferences and diagnostic physical and behavioural characteristics.

View the online Earthworm Guide

The resource requires the Flash Player (download the Player here), and should be viewd in screen resolutions of 1024x768 or above.
 

The last 20 years has seen an enormous expansion in earthworm research with the development of potential profit-related applications in vermiculture, organic waste recycling and even as an economic source of protein. More recently applied research has also investigated the role of earthworms in land restoration, eco-toxicology and environmental monitoring. Despite these undoubted advances in earthworm research many questions posed in Darwin’s era still remain unanswered.

The Earthworm Research Group (ERG) has worked extensively with numerous earthworm species, encompassing all ecological groupings, from both Britain and other northern temperate regions. Research has concentrated on the practical application of earthworms in areas such as land restoration, organic waste management, bio-monitoring and eco-toxicology.