Animal-Sediment Relations: The Biogenic Alteration of Sediments (Topics in Geobiology)

In 1881, Charles Darwin published "The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms." In his book he described the feeding activities of terrestrial oligochaetes and their effect on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and soil fertility. The book sold 8500 copies in the two years following its publication. Later workers confirmed Darwin's observations on the effects of oligochaetes on soil structure and fertility and further documented soil alterations produced by other animals. Still other studies have shown that the biogenic alteration of sediments is a pervasive process in aquatic environments as well.