Ecologist Anne Krediet shows that small soil animals such as earthworms and springtails respond very differently to drought caused by climate change. In dry areas, earthworms tend to become larger on average, while springtails actually become smaller. Moreover, springtails use the tunnels made by earthworms to move deeper into the soil, which helps them survive better.
Earthworms and springtails play a crucial role in breaking down dead leaves and keeping the soil healthy. Therefore, changes in their size and numbers can affect soil fertility in natural areas and even in farmland.
The fact that earthworms and springtails respond differently to drought is probably related to their life strategies. Larger earthworms can retain moisture for longer, but there will likely be fewer of them. Smaller springtails can reproduce more quickly and thus take better advantage of short favorable periods. As a result, very different soil communities develop depending on how dry or wet the environment is.
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