RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Parle, J. N.YR 1963 T1 Micro-Organisms in the Intestines of Earthworms JF Microbiology, VO 31 IS 1 SP 1 OP 11 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-31-1-1 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB SUMMARY Actinomycetes and bacteria, but not fungi, increase rapidly in numbers during the passage of food through the worm gut. Enzymes produced by the worm rather than micro-organisms seem to be the main agents digesting cellulose and chitin. The rate that material moves through the intestine depends on whether the animal is feeding; food takes about 20 hr. to pass, but when burrows are being formed material passes in about 12 hr., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-31-1-1