The development of earthworm populations following manipulation of the canopy leaf litter in a beechwood on limestone

In a submontane beechwood on limestone the development of earthworm populations following manipulations of canopy leaf litter input was studied for 5 years. Repeated exclosure of autumnal litterfall (L0) caused a decline in most species. Additional litter of four times the natural rate at the beginning and in the first year of the experiment (L5) resulted in an overall decline, too, but epigeic species showed an increase for an intermediate time interval. In the 5th year the annual average abundance of all earthworms had decreased to 40% of controls for L0 and 70% of controls of L5, respectively