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NZSSS
Norman Taylor Memorial Lecture
Will be given by Dr Trish Fraser
“The turn of the lowly earthworm”
This year, for the Norman Taylor Memorial Lecture, it is the turn of the lowly earthworm to receive
attention. Beneath the surface of the soil, earthworms go about their daily routine largely un-noticed.
Yet their activities can significantly influence properties such as soil structure, organic matter
distribution, nutrient availability and plant productivity. Indeed as far back as 1881 Charles Darwin
recognised their importance when he stated “It may be doubted whether there are many other animals
which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organised
creatures”… Pioneering researchers in NZ also recognised their importance early on and conducted a
lot of work to understand the role of earthworms in soil processes and their influence on land
productivity. Come along to the lecture to hear more about how the lowly earthworm has been turning
up, turning over and turning within NZ soils.
Due unforeseen circumstances the dates for the lecture,
originally planned for early December, have been changed. The
lecture will now be given in early February, and dates will be
advised in the December issue of Soil News.
NZSSS Special General Meeting
A special general meeting of the Society will be held at Plant & Food
Research, Palmerston North.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 1 st December at 3.30pm in the
upstairs Plant & Food Seminar Room – enter via the front door of the climate
laboratory of Plant & Food.
Agenda
1. Apologies.
2. Financial report and balance sheet for the year ending 30 June 2009.
3. General business.
P M Fraser
Secretary, NZSSS
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