INFLUENCE OF EARTHWORMS ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHEEP DUNG

Freshly defecated sheep dung was exposed on a pasture in northern Bava ria under four different conditions which selectively prevented the in vasion of special groups of coprophagous animals. The remaining dung w as collected after several months and dry weight measured. The result indicates that earthworms (in association with rainfall) have signific ant influence on the disappearance of sheep dung during the autumn but that their influence in the summer is negligible (as it is the case w ith most coprophagous arthropods). Additional effects, such as the way in which coprophagous arthropods may stimulate the feeding of the ear thworms on the dung, could not be established.