Earthworm threatens diversity
The earthworm may threaten plant diversity in ecosystems, according to Canadian researchers.
The earthworm may threaten plant diversity in ecosystems, according to Canadian researchers.
This claim was made after scientists found a link between their presence and reductions in numbers of certain tree and plant species in southern Quebec.
Line Lapointe, lead author and professor at Universite Laval said: “The most likely explanation is that the earthworms consume organic matter in forest litter. This results in soils that can't hold as much moisture, and that in turn interferes with seed germination and the ability of some species' plantlets to survive."
New shoots of red and striped maple, American beech and some fern species became rarer as earthworm population increased across half of the 40 parcels (a parcel is equivalent to 40 acres) researchers visited across five sugar maple forests.
Dr Lapointe said if nothing was done the changes in plant composition seen in the sugar maple forests could become more pronounced and spread to other forest communities.
She said: “Most of our threatened and vulnerable plant species are in fact found in the forests of southern Québec. Earthworms could make it more difficult to protect them."
She recommended earthworms used for bait by fishermen should not be left in forests, but instead taken back with the fishers or instead thrown in the lake.
The study was published in Forest Ecology and Management.
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