Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Ecosystem Engineers

The Earth Moved is a very interesting book, a recommended read for all, especially those concerned with biology, botany, geology, and ecology — with life and its context and causes. Which really should be everyone, or most everyone. Oh, and it is a must-read for gardeners and farmers.

The book helps us understand the world around us, the “hidden world” beneath our feet, the cycle of life. It helps us understand from where comes good food: the stuff of our survival and optimum function. It helps us understand why “better living through chemistry” fails because it tries to replace rich biological causation with dead chemical reactions.

The book is a good work in two keynotes of science: induction and integration.

Earth Moved brings us into the life and illuminates the importance of worms. Of what account worms? Who cares? The synopsis of the book on Amazon says:

They destroy plant diseases. They break down toxins. They plough the earth. They transform forests. They’ve survived two mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaur. Not bad for a creature that’s deaf, blind, and spineless. Who knew that earthworms were one of our planet’s most important caretakers? Or that Charles Darwin devoted his last years to studying their remarkable achievements?

Inspired by Darwin, Amy Stewart takes us on a subterranean adventure. Witty, offbeat, charming, and ever curious, she unearths the complex web of life beneath our feet and investigates the role earthworms play in cutting-edge science-from toxic cleanups to the study of regeneration.

The University of Waikato in New Zealand said of Darwin:

Darwin’s association and interest with earthworms came shortly after his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle. His uncle showed him a spot in his garden where he had spread ashes and lime several years before. Darwin was amazed to see how soil cast up by earthworms had buried the substances. He went home and began a series of earthworm experiments that would go for the next 40 years. Darwin conducted both lab experiments in his study and billiard room and field investigations in his extensive gardens. He published his findings in 1881 in a book titled The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, with Observations of their Habits. The book sold 6000 copies in its first year, selling faster than On the Origin of Species had when it was first published.

Science Learning Hub ©2007-2016 The University of Waikato

Yes. Earthworms are worth knowing about. In The University of Waikato’s Website about earthworms, they say: “earthworms are sometimes known as ‘ecosystem engineers’ because they significantly modify the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil profile. These modifications can influence the habitat and activities of other organisms within the soil ecosystem” — organisms like us and the plants we depend on for survival. We should thank and respect the “lowly” worm for the life and environment they give us.