Non-trophic earthworm effects strongly varied (a) between the types of activity (burrowing, casts, mucus), (b) across the soil profile, (c) between the earthworm species. In general, enchytraeids responded positively to earthworm non-trophic activities. Mucus release and burrowing showed usually stronger impacts than cast deposition. The participation of different non-trophic effects in the resulting joint effect (burrowing聽+聽casts聽+聽mucus) varied with earthworm species and soil horizon. Decomposition of dead earthworms stimulated enchytraeid abundance at lower, but inhibited it at higher mortmass amount.
A comparison between enchytraeid responses to live earthworm (integrated trophic and non-trophic activities) and joint non-trophic (burrowing聽+聽casts聽+聽mucus) impacts allowed an approximate separation of both activity types. Rates of trophic and non-trophic impacts were quantitatively comparable and earthworm species-specific. In particular, L.聽rubellus and A.聽caliginosa earthworms rendered adverse (negative and positive, respectively) influence on enchytraeid abundance. It was concluded that the negative effects of live L.聽rubellus on enchytraeids were primarily related to its trophic activity, whereas the positive effects of live A.聽caliginosa were strongly connected with its non-trophic activities.