Investigation Into the Effects of Lumbricus rubellus on Soil pH
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Authors
Gardner, Ryan
Issue Date
2008
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Since the end of the last ice age, there have been no
native earthworms in the northern United States. Lumbricus
rubellus is a common invasive which was introduced to North
America form Europe for farming purposes. From these farm
plots several earthworm species have moved into new habitats
(Marinissen and Bosch, 1990). Although earthworms are
commonly known as beneficial, recent studies have found that
their activities in forested plots can alter the native ecosystem
(Hale, 2005). The full extent of these damages are unknown.
Many studies have determined pH to be one of the major
factors in determining earthworm distributions (Edwards,
1998). However, the possibility that L. rubellus is effecting pH
rather than being effected by it, has not been explored.
By determining if L. rubellus can in fact change the pH of
its environment we can further our understanding of how
invasive earthworms effect non-agricultural plots.
Description
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.