Comparative study of digestive enzyme activities in earthworms belonging to two distinct ecological categories
两种生态类型蚯蚓几种消化酶活性比较研究

Earthworms play an important part in transformation of organic residues and soil nutrient cycling.In order to determine the diets and the capacity of degrading organic substances,cellulase,protease acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were measured in the gut of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida and an anecic earthworm Pheretima guillemi. Activity of protease,phosphatases and rate of CO 2 evolution were compared between casts of Pheretima guillemi and uningested soil.Cellulase activity was far more important in the gut of Eisenia fetida than that of Pheretima guillemi, while the activities of protease,acid and alkaline phosphatases were significantly lower that these of Pheretima guillemi .The differences of digestive enzyme activities between the two earthworm species may be resulted from the fact that Eisenia fetida feed on plant residues,while Pheretima guillemi consumes micro\|organisms on the organic debris.According to the results of the present study,it is recommended that in culture of Pheretima, it is important to increase microbial biomass in the cultural medium.