title: [Field sampling methods for earthworm: a review].
abstract: As a critical component of soil ecosystem, earthworm can improve soil structure and relates closely to soil nutrient cycling, playing an important role in promoting soil quality and productivity. However, there is lack of systematic study on the field sampling methods for earthworm, especially in China. This paper reviewed the operational processes of commonly used field sampling methods for earthworm, and discussed their corresponding merits, efficacy, and potential influence on research results. To achieve a complete and accurate characterization of earthworm community size and structure, the method of chemical repellent combined with hand-sorting could work well at the sites where physical disturbance was acceptable, while the AITC (allyl isothiocyanate) method would be a favorable option at the sites where soil destruction was not feasible.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130012, China. ruqinfan2007@126.com
authors.forename: Ru-Qin
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ai-Zhen
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiu-Huan
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xue-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009835:Oligochaeta; D012987:Soil; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017879:Isothiocyanates; D012987:Soil; C004471:allyl isothiocyanate