@article{fdi:010065338,
  title = {{E}ffects of cast properties and passage through the earthworm gut on seed germination and seedling growth},
  author = {{C}lause, {J}. and {B}arot, {S}{\'e}bastien and {F}orey, {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}uccess of seed germination and seedling establishment is potentially affected by interactions with earthworms. {T}wo of the possible mechanisms that might explain such impact are the selective ingestion of seeds by earthworms that might break seed dormancy, and germination in their nutrient-rich casts. {T}he aim of this study was to disentangle the effect of seed passage through the earthworm gut and the effect of cast alone, as a germination medium, on the germination and growth of four herbaceous species. {W}e hypothesized that the presence of seeds in casts facilitates their germination and seedling growth and that the passage of seeds through gut favors seed germination. {N}on-ingested seeds were placed in artificial earthworm casts shaped from cast material of 3 soil types x 3 earthworm species combinations (plus control). {S}eed germination after seed ingestion and excretion was tested in a {P}etri dish experiment in the presence of each earthworm species. {C}ontrary to our expectations, we found that passage of seeds through the gut of {L}umbricus terrestris decreased the germination of {F}estuca lemanii and that all seeds of {O}riganum vulgare and {U}rtica dioica were digested. {T}otal seed germination of non-ingested seeds placed in casts was affected by cast properties, i.e., by the interaction between the soil type and the earthworm species. {S}eedlings germinating from the control material had a higher relative growth rate than in material from {A}llolobophora chlorotica cast. {O}ur results suggest that seed ingestion alters seed germination success of specific plant species. {T}he cases of lower germination and seedling growth induced by cast effects are discussed with regards to their physical, chemical and microbiological properties.},
  keywords = {{S}eed germination ; {S}eed ingestion ; {R}elative {G}rowth {R}ate ; {E}arthworm casts ; {S}oil types ; {N}utrient availability},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}pplied {S}oil {E}cology},
  volume = {96},
  numero = {},
  pages = {108--113},
  ISSN = {0929-1393},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.007},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065338},
}