What is the ‘point’ of earthworms? If they all disappeared tomorrow, would there be any impact? (Other than a food source loss for some animals)

Question

As above. Sorry if this is a silly question!

I realise there is no ‘point’ to any particular animal or plant, but you often find that various species provide some sort of benefit (e.g. plants giving out oxygen, those birds that clean crocodiles’ teeth, spiders eat a lot of flies).

I just wondered if worms are particularly ‘useful’, because they don’t seem to do much from what I can tell

In: 170

Answer 1

So essential that you need major work to run a garden without either earthworms or fertilisers.

Our intensive veg garden runs three worm farms, 2 are repurposed bath tubs. These really get a mass of garden waste and food scraps broken down faster. They also do the same with buried waste in the soil, as well as airating it. Without their holes, our thick heavy clay soil would be the death of most plants in the wet season here.