Project properties
Title What do earthworms want? Species-specific optimization of soil management in our Earthworm Hotel
Group Soil Biology
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Jan Willem van Groenigen, Ingrid Lubbers
Examiner(s) Rachel Creamer
Contact info JanWillem.vanGroenigen@wur.nl
Ingrid.Lubbers@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/12/01
End date
Description Earthworms are among the most important soil fauna. They contribute to the quality of soil by improving soil structure, increasing nutrient mineralisation, mixing residues into the soil, and many other process. Many of the pathways involved are still unclear, and it is equally unclear which (combinations of) earthworm species provide the largest benefits.

In order to study these questions and having readily access to earthworms for experiments, we have set up an Earthworm Hotel on campus in which we try to optimize soil management and crop management for 12 different species of earthworm. However, it is still unclear how effective these management options are at stimulating the target species (and discouraging non-target species).

You will sample the earthworm hotel to quantify effectiveness of current treatments in stimulating target species; study the literature to identify possible shortcomings in the current management; and conduct lab- and field experiments to determine how management should be modified to stimulate target species.
Used skills Apart from the usual required skills (performing a literature review, writing a proposal and a thesis, data processing and statistics, presentation) it is especially important for this topic that you are interested in earthworm ecology, and that you are resourceful and creative with respect to designing and executing experiments.
Requirements Required courses for MSc thesis Soil Biology / Soil Geography and Landscape. Following the course Biological Interactions in Soils (SOQ 32806) is especially useful.