Thomas F. auteur aut IRD Rossi J. P. auteur aut IRD Decaëns Thibaud auteur aut IRD Grimaldi Michel auteur aut IRD Lavelle Patrick auteur aut IRD da Silva Martins P. F. auteur aut IRD Garnier-Zarli E. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Soil ecosystem engineers produce biogenic structures (casts, mounds, galleries) that strongly affect soil processes. A comparative analysis of the physical characteristics of the casts produced by the earthworm Andiodrilus pachoensis was carried out in four pastures sowed with Brachiaria brizantha and four primary forests on the deforestation front of the Amazonian forest. In both systems, we recorded surface cast density and spatial patterns as well as surface cast physical properties. Cast and vegetation distributions were mapped within plots of sizes ranging from 25 to 50 m(2), and cast production was monitored during 2 months. Cast spatial distribution varied greatly among plots and across spatial scales ranging from regular at small spatial scales (0-20 cm) to clumped for larger distance ranges (>80 cm). Cast density was not significantly correlated with grass tuft density and their production was independent from the presence of grass tufts in pastures or litter quantity in forests. Although bulk soil properties (pH, C content, structural stability, etc) differed between pastures and forests, cast physical properties did not differ significantly among the studied ecosystem. specialized Andiodrilus pachoensis Earthworm casts Spatial patterns Cast production Cast physical properties Amazon Tropical forests Tropical pastures 074 44 5-6 545-553 2008 1164-5563 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044186 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2008.09.003 1164-5563 [F B010044186] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044186 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2009/01/010044186.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2009-02-06 2017-08-23 fdi:010044186 fre