Influence of Exotic Earthworms on the Soil Organic Horizon and the Rare Fern Botrychium mormo

• Published in: Conservation biology Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 1555 - 1561
• Main Author: Gundale, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA, USA Blackwell Science Inc 01.12.2002; Blackwell Science; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Earthworms; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humus; Microcosms; Mineral soils; Organic soils; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Soil biology; Soil ecology; Soil horizons; Soil organic matter; Minnesota; Chippewa County Minnesota; United States; North America; America; Introduced species; Organic soil; Impact study; Forest soil; Pteridophyta; Annelida; Oligochaeta; Rare species; Bioturbation; Earthworm; Plant; Lumbricus rubellus; Animal plant relation; Soil horizons; Invertebrata; Colonization; Filicineae

Forests north of the last glacial extent have no native earthworms. Exotic earthworms are now colonizing forests that are naturally free of earthworms. It is currently unknown how these exotic earthworms might affect rare plants. To determine whether there is an association between the presence of a...