Cosmopolitan Earthworms—A Global and Historical Perspective

Blakemore, Robert J.

doi:10.1002/9780470455203.ch14

Cited by 50 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Of the 3000-3500 earthworm species that have been described (Csuzdi, 2012), about 150 species are considered to be peregrine (i.e., widely ranging, often owing to human activity; Blakemore, 2012). Most of these peregrine earthworm species are well adapted to human transport and can colonize disturbed habitats (Hendrix et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harmful or useful? A case study of the exotic peregrine earthworm morphospecies Pontoscolex corethrurus

Taheri

Pelosi

Dupont

2018

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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A B S T R A C TExotic peregrine earthworms are often considered to cause environmental harm and to have a negative impact on native species, but, as ecosystem engineers, they enhance soil physical properties. Pontoscolex corethrurus is by far the most studied morphospecies and is also the most widespread in tropical areas. The term of morphospecies is used in this review because P. corethrurus may in fact constitute a complex of cryptic species. This earthworm is found in a wide range of habitats, from apparently pristine to any kind of human-disturbed environment. This review synthesizes 265 studies describing the distribution, morphology, biological and ecological traits of this morphospecies, as well as its impacts on soil conditions and communities. We then discuss the characteristics necessary for this specific morphospecies to become a successful colonizer throughout the world and the positive and negative effects it can have on the ecosystems that it has invaded. We emphasize the lack of knowledge of P. corethrurus reproductive mode and ploidy level, of its population genetics, and of the potential existence of cryptic species. To finish, we highlight the fact that data on P. corethrurus interactions with non-earthworm soil macrofauna are scarce.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harmful or useful? A case study of the exotic peregrine earthworm morphospecies Pontoscolex corethrurus

Taheri

Pelosi

Dupont

2018

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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“…In addition, an exotic "Dichogaster sp." (Octochaetidae, Benhamiinae) was identified in a sample (Blakemore 1995: ANIC RB.95.27.2) provided in January, 1994 by Randal Hinz from a 20-year-old rehabilitated mine site in lateritic soils at Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory, characterized in Blakemore (2002Blakemore ( , 2012a Blakemore (2015) and Blakemore et al (2014) Metaphire bahli and allied spp reviewed chronologically after a key to the species Note. Taxonomic differentiation between Pheretima and Metaphire is mainly on the presence of nephridia on the spermathecal ducts in the former (also sometimes found in Amynthas that, however, has superficial male pores and is the prior "default" pheretimoid genus) (Sims and Easton 1972).…”

Section: Taxonomic Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taxonomic identifications follow keys and classifications in Sims & Easton (1972) updated by Blakemore (2000Blakemore ( , 2008aBlakemore ( , 2012a. New specimens in 80% EtOH are lodged in the NT Museum and provided small tissue samples for mtDNA COI barcoding with preliminary analysis via NCBI-BLAST (Altshul et al 1990) compared using MEGA6 (Tamura et al 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both being concentrated repositories for endemic natives and introduced exotics which require considerable taxonomic expertise in order to identify correctly. The current study attempted a pilot earthworm eco-taxonomic biodiversity assessment during the author's brief visit to Darwin, the Territory's capital city, in March, 2015. Although tropical Northern Territory occupies a vast area (1,420,970 km²) and an early description was of native Diplotrema eremia (Spencer, 1896) from Alice Springs, only a dozen natives and just 8 exotics reviewed 33 years ago by Easton (1982) then Blakemore (1994Blakemore ( , 1999Blakemore ( , 2002Blakemore ( , 2012a, give a present total of ca. 20 earthworm species -about the same number as found on a single farm in the south (see Dyne 1987, Dyne & Jamieson 2004, Blakemore 1994, 2008c.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Darwin’s earthworms (Annelida, Oligochaeta, Megadrilacea) with review of cosmopolitan Metaphire peguana–species group from Philippines

Blakemore¹

2016

Opusc Zool

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“…Most of these species were transported unintentionally, through soil or other materials that could contain earthworms, probably soon after the establishment of trade routes between the Old and the New Worlds Blakemore, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A catalogue of the Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae (Clitellata: Lumbricina)from South America, with two new records of exotic species from Brazil

Assis¹,

Souza²,

Vieira³

et al. 2017

Turk J Zool

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IntroductionThe Eudrilidae earthworms are endemic to the Ethiopian region (Reynolds, 1994). They present extreme variations in the sexual apparatus, particularly of the female organs (Omodeo, 2000;Blakemore, 2002. Eudriline evolution has resulted in economy of sperm production. Modifications in the male apparatus appear to reduce, or prevent, gregarine ravages (Sims, 1987). Eudrilus eugeniae has achieved a pantropical distribution (Omodeo, 2000).Megascolecidae is the most diverse family of earthworms (Blakemore, 2002); it has over 1000 species (Sims and Gerard, 1985;Blakemore, 2002). Most of them are native to Asia (Blakemore, 2002) and Australia (Sims and Gerard, 1985). One genus of the family Acanthodrilidae, Diplocardia, is native to North America. Several genera of Megascolecidae sensu stricto [i.e. Arctiostrotus, Argilophilus, Chetcodrilus, Drilochaera, Driloleirus (the only meroic genus), Kincaidodrilus, Macnabodrilus, Nephrallaxis, and Toutellus], placed under the as of yet poorly defined tribe

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Cosmopolitan Earthworms—A Global and Historical Perspective

Cited by 50 publications

References 51 publications

Harmful or useful? A case study of the exotic peregrine earthworm morphospecies Pontoscolex corethrurus

Harmful or useful? A case study of the exotic peregrine earthworm morphospecies Pontoscolex corethrurus

Darwin’s earthworms (Annelida, Oligochaeta, Megadrilacea) with review of cosmopolitan Metaphire peguana–species group from Philippines

A catalogue of the Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae (Clitellata: Lumbricina)from South America, with two new records of exotic species from Brazil

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