Species-dependent population-level responses of composting earthworms Eisenia fetida and Dendrobaena veneta to a regular stress factor
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Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Environment Protection and Management, Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, ul. Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
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Agnieszka Podolak
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Environment Protection and Management, Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, ul. Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
J. Ecol. Eng. 2025; 26(5):220-229
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ABSTRACT
Earthworms of the species Eisenia fetida and Dendrobaena veneta, referred to as composting earthworms, are commonly used in the processing of organic waste of plant origin. The product of this process is vermicompost, i.e. fertilizer used in agriculture. Both species, despite morphological and physiological similarities, are characterized by different life strategies, but also show different reactions to stress factors. The aim of the study was to analyze the population-level response of two species of composting earthworms, E. fetida and D. veneta, to a repeated stress factor - low-voltage electric current (4.5 V). The studies confirmed that both analyzed earthworm species show different sensitivity to the stress factor. In D. veneta earthworms, a negative effect of stress was observed in the form of a decrease in numbers, body weight and parameters related to cocoons, compared to E. fetida earthworms, which turned out to be resistant to this type of stress factor.