Regenwurm

Among the natural predators of the earthworm are numerous bird species. Other natural enemies are frogs, ground beetles, ants and fire salamanders. The greater danger, however, comes from humans, from the destruction of its habitat through pollutants and impervious surfaces. The nocturnal trip on impervious surfaces mostly results in death: ultraviolet sunlight causes the death of the worms, which are not coloured enough. On intensively cultivated fields the soil turns into mud after particularly extensive rainfall. Through soil erosion not only humus and plant nutrients are flushed away but the habitat of the earthworms is destroyed as well. Earthworm tunnels can be crushed by heavy construction and agricultural machinery driving over the ground. Thus the aeration of the soil is greatly reduced and the soil organisms cannot possibly survive. Liquid manure, pesticides and other pollutants have not only a lethal effect on earthworms but the earthworms thus poisoned can become fatal for birds and their young via the food chain.