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

Darwin’s last paper on the effects of tiny changes over long time spans focused on the illusion of ancient structures sinking into the ground; he proved that they don’t. Earthworms cause the soil to rise up around the base. Earthworm make soil and existing soil better.