Figure

Blue Terrisswalkerius earthworms (image courtesy Barrie Jamieson). Earthworms are among the unsung heroes of the world’s ecosystems. They are important for nutrient recycling, maintaining soil integrity and reducing soil runoff. In the rainforest some species have evolved into distinctive large, colourful residents. Indeed, a substantial diversity of unique rainforest species exists, some of which are important for tracing evolutionary history. A study of Wet Tropics Terrisswalkerius earthworms has shown that this rainforest functions as a museum of their biological diversity, providing testimony to the geographical boundaries within the area that helped to shape the ecosystem today [158].