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

Basically, earthworms keep top soil from becoming dirt. We couldn’t live without them. There would be no food. The world’s food production depends on a healthy balance of bacteria, microbes, bugs, earthworms and an entire micros-environment on the top layer of fertile soil. One way farmers can show their healthy soil is by digging a hole (just push a shovel in the ground and tilt really) and showing earthworms. No worms = no life = dirt.