Session details

Session details

Regarding the abstracts we have received, all sessions have been reorganised. New sessions are organised as below:

Session 1 - Earthworms, from soil functions to climate change
(Monday, July 11 – 9:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m)

This session will present advances in how earthworms affect soil functions, primarily soil structure, and the fate of carbon and nutrients. Particular attention will be given to the interactions with other soil organisms, ecological traits of these  organisms and the consequences of their activities on climate change.

Session 2: Community ecology and ecological networks - Earthworm together and with the others
(Tuesday, July 12 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:45 a.m.)

The effect of earthworms on ecosystem functions and services is difficult to understand if we do not consider the collaborative and competitive relationships that different species of earthworms maintain. Moreover, it often becomes necessary to consider earthworms as one component among others in a network of interactions, in which other soil animals, plants and microorganisms also participate, by exchanging nutrients and signals, or constructing niches for each other. This session thus aims to explore (i) how the networks in which earthworms take part are organized and (ii) how the functions that emerge from these networks are modulated.

Session 3: Earthworms facing environmental pollutants: effects, responses and retroactions
(Tuesday, July 12 – 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.)

Environmental pollution has become a major soil threat. Pollutants may affect earthworm at different levels of biological organization, from molecular and cellular mechanisms, to life history traits and communities. In turn, this influences the fate of chemicals and soil functioning. With considerations on metals, nanoparticles, pesticides, or industrial byproducts, this session will account for modeling and experimental approaches, standard tests, risk assessment and on-field observations that can improve our understanding on the consequences of pollutants on earthworms and how they may cope with chemical pressures.

Session 4: Agroecology, Sustainable ecosystem and earthworm engineering
(Wednesday, July 13 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.)

In a context of societal transition (ecological, energy, urban and agronomic), this session will cover different topics: what are the impacts of agricultural practices on earthworm communities and related functions and ecosystem services? Can we identify or propose innovative agricultural practices or managements that improve, preserve or restore earthworms and their functions; do earthworms are key actors in agroecological transition, agricultural trajectory, urban transition? A particular attention will be given on vermicomposting.

Session 5: Earthworm biodiversity and evolution: patterns and mechanisms
(Friday, July 15 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

This session will present updated researches on the genetic and taxonomic diversity of earthworms with focuses on inventory, biogeography and phygeography of native and exotic species. The implication of citizen science in this topic will receive particular attention.

General Conclusion
(Friday, July 15 – 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)