Earthworm and Algae Species in a Trickling Filter

A trickling filter at a Waste Water Treatment Facility in the Village of Minoa in Central New York State represents an entire ecological community with different algae during the spring, summer, fall and winter months. The algae types present are identified as Cladophora glomerata and a moss-like species of the genus Vaucheria. Earthworm species Eiseniella tetraedra and Dedrodrilus rubidus are found living in the algae and using the algae as a habitat.

A stable isotope analyses was used to investigate the relationship between the worms and the algae. The analyses showed no relationship between the algae and worms growing on the trickling filter, but rather a direct relationship between the worms and wastewater.