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

They are part of the process of breaking organic waste down into soil. They also break up the topsoil and prevent it from becoming compacted and unsuitable for root formation.

They are one of the most important macroscopic creatures to topsoil formation and health. If earthworms died out tomorrow, most other terrestrial species on earth would also die out within 50 years due to mass famine.