Biomass of Invasive Earthworms and Plant Diversity in a Southern New England Forest

Responses of non‐native earthworms to experimental eradication of garlic mustard and implications for native vegetation

“…, , Craven et al. , Duncan and Whitfeld ) and observed associations between earthworms and plant diversity in our study region (Eisenhauer et al. , Duncan and Whitfeld ), we found no relationship between earthworms and the diversity or abundance of native plants within invaded or control plots.…”

“…, , Nuzzo et al. , Duncan and Whitfeld ). However, lower earthworm biomass at plots undergoing garlic mustard eradication compared to plots without garlic mustard suggests further that plant invasion might also be facilitating earthworm invasions (Fig.…”

“…We used earthworm biomass as a measure of overall earthworm activity (Duncan and Whitfeld ). A 0.25‐m 2 quadrat was established in the northwest corner of each plot.…”

“…, , Craven et al. , Duncan and Whitfeld ). Forests in the northeastern and mid‐Atlantic region of the United States have historically had no native earthworms since the last glaciation, but they have become increasingly invaded by several earthworm species introduced as early as the time of European settlement and through their modern use as recreational fishing bait (Bohlen and Hendrix ).…”

“…, Craven et al. , Duncan and Whitfeld ), and it remains unclear whether earthworms facilitate garlic mustard invasion or whether earthworms co‐occur with garlic mustard for other reasons, like changes in soil pH and organic matter contents that may vary across sites (Kalisz and Dotson ). Garlic mustard is known to increase soil pH to a neutral range that may favor earthworms (Levine et al.…”