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This video shows earthworm escape responses to the amplified sound of a digging mole. The container filled with dirt holds 50 Diplocardia earthworms. The attached speaker is connected to a computer that is playing the recorded sound of a mole (the recordings were made with a geophone). For an example of these recordings, listen to sound file B.
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In this video a mole burrows in the large arena filled with soil and containing 300 Diplocardia earthworms. This video is similar to video 3, showing a more natural setting and illustrating the pronounced escape responses (sped up), but in this case showing some of the responses at longer distances form the mole.
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This video shows a preliminary test for earthworm responses to a burrowing mole. The container filled with dirt holds 50 Diplocardia earthworms. A mole is then introduced to the arena. As the mole digs, the earthworms exit to the surface and attempt to leave the area (video is sped-up).
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Gary and Audrey Revell demonstrate worm grunting to collect bait in the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida's panhandle. The Revell's are professional bait collectors and make their living by collecting the large earthworms native to the area. These worms (Diplocardia mississippiensis) respond to vibrations by rapidly exiting their underground burrows. The vibrations are created by first pounding a wooden stake (called a “stob”) into the ground, and then rubbing the top of the stake with a flat piece of metal (a “rooping iron”). This is repeated in different areas until thousands of worms have been collected.
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In this video a wild, foraging mole extends its tunnel in Davidson County, Tennessee (real time). Notice the sounds generated by the mole. These sounds are not rustling vegetation, but rather breaking roots as the mole forcefully pushes the soil upward.
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In this video a mole burrows in the large arena filled with soil and containing 300 Diplocardia earthworms. This shows a more natural setting and illustrates the pronounced escape responses (sped up). Because burrowing moles generally remain below ground while hunting worms, a worm that exits to the surface is safe from the hungry mole. Moles generate vibrations and soil compressions as they dig, and the results of this study suggest that worm grunters are simulating moles.