Drilosphere
The drilosphere is defined as the whole soil volume that is under the influence of earthworms, including the body and internal structures of the worm that come in contact with the soil. (2) As ecosystem engineers(1), earthworms have the ability to change the soil, both physiochemically and biologically (2).
Geophagous Worms
Geophagous worms are worms that feed on soil. Ingesting soil frees dormant bacteria from tight pore spaces and restarts the complete enzymatic capacities of the bacteria. (1) The digestion system of earthworms allows them to make use of soil that may be poor or deplete in resources. (1)
Digestive System
The digestive system of worms consists of the pharynx, the esophagus, the crop, the intestine, and the gizzard. (3) The soil is ingested by the worm and swallowed by the pharynx. When the soil reaches the esophagus, the worm releases calcium carbonate to ensure that their is not excess calcium in the worm. (3) The food then moves into the crop, where it is stored, and then into the gizzard. (3) In the gizzard, stones eaten by the worm help grind up the food. The ground up food then moves down into the intestine, where gland cells release fluids to aid in digestion. The walls of the intestines contain blood vessels, which help to absorb and transport nutrients. (3)
References
(1) Cuddington, Kim, et al. Ecosystem Engineers: Plants to Protists. Academic Press, 2007.
(2)Brown, George, et al. Regulation of Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Activityin the Drilosphere and the Role of Interactionswith Other Edaphic Functional Domains. European Journal of Soil Biology.