Dominance of an invasive earthworm in native and non-native grassland ecosystems |
| |
Authors: | Yaniria Sánchez-de León Jodi Johnson-Maynard |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2339, USA;(2) Department of Biological Sciences (M/C 066), University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607-7060, USA |
| |
Abstract: | More attention is currently being focused on earthworm invasions; however, in many ecosystems the relative abundance of native
and invasive earthworm species is unknown. We characterized earthworm populations of two grassland types within the Palouse
region: native prairie remnants and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) set asides planted with exotic grasses. The earthworm
community in both grassland types was completely dominated by the exotic-invasive Aporrectodea trapezoides. Only one individual of a native species, Driloleirus americanus (the giant Palouse earthworm), was found in a prairie remnant. No differences were found between prairie remnants and CRP
sites for mean earthworm density (24–106 individuals m−2) or fresh weight (12–45 g m−2). Our results suggest that the combined effects of land-use change, habitat fragmentation and competitive interactions have
resulted in the decimation of native earthworm populations and dominance of invasive earthworms in native and non-native grasslands
of the Palouse region. |
| |
Keywords: | Invasive earthworms Grasslands Palouse prairie Conservation Reserve Program |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|