Science: The Vanishing Earthworm

Early birds, anglers and farmers had bad news last week. Lumbricus terrestris —better known as the earthworm—is in serious trouble. U.S. Soil Conservationists Henry Hopp and Paul J. Linder have warned in Science magazine that the earthworm population in some sections of the U.S. is dipping alarmingly.

Color & Variety. To farmers who are not particularly worried about an earthworm shortage, Hopp & Linder point out that the earthworm is one of the world's most efficient farmhands: it does an enormous amount of soil conservation. Toiling underground, the hard-working worms in one acre can eat, pulverize, fertilize, aerate and move ten tons...

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