Introduced exotic earthworms now occur in every biogeographic region in all but the driest or coldest habitat types on Earth. The global distribution of a few species (e.g., Pontoscolex corethrurus) was noted by early natural- ists, but now approximately 120 such peregrine species are recognized to be widespread from regional to global scales, mainly via human activities. Species adapted to human transport and to colonization of disturbed habi- tats are most widespread and are the principal invasive species. We identify a number of endogenous and exogenous factors that may contribute to the successful establishment and spread of peregrine species. Quantification of these factors may help to determine why certain species become invasive while others do not. Recent advances in theory and modeling of biological invasions and in molecular techniques should prove fruitful in improving our understanding of invasive earthworms, as well as in predicting their impacts on ecosystems.

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Pandora's Box Contained Bait : The Global Problem of Introduced Earthworms

Ecology of Biological Invasions of North America and Hawaii

Environmental disturbances seem to be increasing in frequency and impact, yet we have little understanding of the belowground impacts of these events. Soil fauna, while widely acknowledged to be important drivers of biogeochemical function, soil structure and sustainability, and trophic interactions, are understudied compared to other belowground organisms such as archaea, bacteria, and fungi. In this review we summarize the current state of knowledge of soil fauna as it relates to and is influenced by various disturbances. We focus our review on three main natural and anthropogenic disturbance types: 1) natural disturbances, including damage from wind and flooding; 2) invasive species, including above and belowground flora and fauna; and 3) climate change impacts on the atmosphere and temperature. We do not address the impacts of wildfires, forestry, agricultural practices, mining, or human-caused pollution, as these topics have all been covered in other works. We highlight knowledge gaps and suggest future avenues of research, with hope that the importance of soil fauna and their influences on ecosystems will be given greater emphasis in future research.

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Soil fauna responses to natural disturbances, invasive species, and global climate change: Current state of the science and a call to action

In Canada it is generally accepted that most indigenous earthworms did not survive glaciation, and that the majority of the earthworms now inhabiting Canadian soils are relatively recent introductions of European origin. Although these exotic earthworms are generally considered to be beneficial in agricultural soils, their effects can be less benign in forested ecosystems. Studies have shown that invading earthworms can significantly alter the forest floor, affecting the distribution of carbon, nitrogen and other chemicals, roots, microbes and other elements of the soil fauna, and even understory vegetation. This paper summarizes the current distribution of exotic and native earthworm species in Canadian forests and draws on the results of studies of invasion patterns and environmental impacts in northern forests in North America and Europe to discuss potential outcomes for forests in Canada. The potential for variables such as temperature, pH, litter palatability and dispersal, to limit or promote the invasion of exotic earthworms in Canadian forests is discussed, and areas for future research are proposed. The same earthworm species that are invading forests in northern Europe and the US are also invading Canadian forests. Several species of exotic earthworms are already established in a wide range of deciduous and coniferous forest types, including the boreal. Evidence is presented to suggest that further expansion into Canadian forests is likely.

Distribution and impacts of invasive earthworms in Canadian forest ecosystems

The potential of earthworms to restore ecosystem services after opencast mining – A review

The most conspicuous biological inva- sions in terrestrial ecosystems have been by exotic plants, insects and vertebrates. Invasions by exo- tic earthworms, although not as well studied, may be increasing with global commerce in agricul- ture, waste management and bioremediation. A number of cases has documented where invasive earthworms have caused significant changes in soil profiles, nutrient and organic matter dynamics, other soil organisms or plant commu- nities. Most of these cases are in areas that have been disturbed (e.g., agricultural systems) or were previously devoid of earthworms (e.g., north of Pleistocene glacial margins). It is not clear that such effects are common in ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms, especially where soils are undisturbed. We explore the idea that indigenous earthworm fauna and/or characteristics of their

/pdf/invasion-of-exotic-earthworms-into-ecosystems-inhabited-by-4fe9dgqhkt.pdf

Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms

https://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pubs/ja_iitf_2006_hendrix001.pdf

G. A. Damoff

Papers

Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms

Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms