Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
they are absent, or represented by less active populations, often results in significant
increases in plant production. In New Zealand, the native fauna is dominated by
endogeic Megascolecidae which are adapted to a natural environment where grasses
produce low quality organic matter. The introduction of European anecic and endogeic
species following the introduction of European grasses, had dramatic effects on grass
production (Stockdill, 1982). Similar effects have been described in Dutch polders
where patches of soil colonised by earthworms could be readily identified on aerial
photographs from their brighter green colouring (Hoogerkamp
et al.,
1983).
