Body mass and behavioural responses of Allolobophora chlorotica earthworms to water potential and gravimetric moisture under drying in four soils of contrasting texture

This dataset contains measurements of adult Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826) earthworm body mass and behavioural state (active or aestivating) under drying conditions in four soils of contrasting textures (LUFA 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 6S). Water retention curves were generated for each soil texture using HYPROP instruments to derive water potential (pF) values from gravimetric moisture contents (wt%). Individual earthworms were subjected to gradual drying within one of the four soils in a controlled temperature environment. Each soil was sampled at three water potentials and three gravimetric moisture contents to assess behavioural (active vs aestivating) and physiological (changes in body mass) responses of Al. chlorotica to drought stress, and to determine whether these responses vary with soil texture.