We suggest that new technologies such as the c and n isotope technique for nutrient cycling and the image analysis approaches for soil micro - structure should be applied on earthworm ecological research in order to better understand the functions of earthworms 其他新技术如研究养分循环的碳氮同位素分析和揭示土壤微结构的图像分析等技术的应用是蚯蚓生态功能研究的迫切需要。