What do earthworms depend on?

Earthworms derive their nutrition from fungi, bacteria, and possibly protozoa and nematodes, and they promote the activity of these organisms by shredding and increasing the surface area of organic matter and making it more available to small organisms.

What helps the earthworm in its movement?

An earthworm moves using circular and longitudinal muscles, as well as bristles called setae. The earthworm can push the setae out of its body to grab the soil around it. To move forward, the worm uses its setae to anchor the front of its body and contracts the longitudinal muscles to shorten its body.

What is responsible for the swift movement of worms?

Circular muscles wrap around each segment, and longitudinal muscles extend across the length of the body. These muscles are powerful and well-developed. The circular and longitudinal muscles work together to help the earthworm writhe, wiggle and push its way through the substratum of soil.

How do earthworms produce?

The male and female sex organs can produce sperm and egg respectively in each earthworm. Although earthworms are hermaphrodites, most need a mate to reproduce. During mating, two worms line up inverted from each other so sperm can be exchanged.

How earthworm increases the fertility of soil?

Earthworm burrows increase soil porosity which increases the amount of air and water that get into the soil. Increased porosity also lowers bulk density and increases root development. Earthworm excrement or casts increase soil fertility because it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.

How does an earthworm move Class 6 short?

During movement, the earthworm first extends the front part of the body, keeping the rear portion fixed to the ground. Then it fixes the front end and releases the rear end. It then shortens the body and pulls the rear end forward. This makes it move forward by a small distance.

How do earthworms move underground?

An earthworm moves by using two different sets of muscles. Circular muscles loop around each segment, and longitudinal muscles run along the length of the body. When the circular muscles contract, the earthworm stretches, becoming longer and thinner.

What kind of movement does earthworm show Class 5?

Earthworms show crawling type of locomotion or movement. For further details please refer to the following link.

How are earthworms cocoons formed?

A mucus sheath is formed around the clitellum and is moved along the earthworm until it comes off the head end. Along this journey it picks up the egg(s) and the sperm of the earthworm that was mated with. This mucus sheath forms the cocoon and fertilisation of the egg occurs within the cocoon.

What do earthworms do?

Earthworms increase soil aeration, infiltration, structure, nutrient cycling, water movement, and plant growth. Earthworms are one of the major decomposers of organic matter. They get their nutrition from microorganisms that live on organic matter and in soil material.

How do earthworms increase the fertility of soil class 7?

Earthworms ingest soil, digest the organic matter present in it and excrete soil full of plant nutrients known as worm cast which makes soil fertile. They make burrows into the soil and thus they aerate the soil.