Introducing the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in grasslands to improve water regulation

Water regulation is an important ecosystem service of grasslands. Anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris presence in grasslands has a positive effect on water infiltration. We explored the ability of L. terrestris to survive and reproduce after being newly introduced into mesocosms in grasslands on sandy soils. While L. terrestris appeared able to survive and produce cocoons, survival rate was low (32% after 7 months, 6% after 15 months, 33% after 8 months) and the number of juveniles was low (2.6 and 2.7 ind. m–2 after 7 and 15 months, resp., 2.5 ind. m–2 after 8 months in re-inoculated mesocosms). Low survival rate may be related to the life history of the L. terrestris inoculum, soil moisture, interspecific competition for food with the native population of epigeic earthworms and the risk of predation.