Distribution and Habitat of the Endemic Earthworm Eisenoides lonnbergi (Michaelsen) in the Northeastern United States

McCay, Timothy S.; Pinder, R.; Alvarado, E Román; Hanson, Watson C.

doi:10.1656/045.024.0302

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Although invasive Amynthas and related genera have been known in North America since at least 1867 ( A. agrestis first seen in 1939 and A. tokioensis in 1947; ( Reynolds, 2018 )), they were seldom noticed until two decades ago when they became serious pests in forest and horticultural habitats ( Frelich et al, 2006 ; Hendrix et al, 2006 ; Hendrix et al, 2008 ; Ferlian et al, 2018 ; Ferlian et al, 2020 ). In New England, USA, Amynthas have colonized habitats where other earthworms, typically about four to six species, are present ( Görres, Bellitürk & Keller, 2014 ; McCay et al, 2017 ). These resident earthworms were themselves once non-native species, and thus the Amynthas are incomers that can reach very high population densities (up to 120 adults m −1 ( Görres, Bellitürk & Melnichuk, 2016 )) and can now dominate, and even eliminate, successful invaders that have become naturalized over the past three centuries ( Chang et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic population structure and reproductive system of two invasive Asian earthworms,Amynthas tokioensisandAmynthas agrestis

Nouri-Aiin

Connolly

Keough

et al. 2022

PeerJ

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The invasive Asian earthworms, Amynthas tokioensis and A. agrestis, have been successful in entering North American forests in recent decades, with significant damage to both soils and above-ground environments. This success could be driven in part by a polyploid genetic system and parthenogenetic reproduction, often suggested as benefits for invasive species. Therefore, we assessed the genetic population structure, genetic diversity, and reproductive system of both species using morphological traits and panels of microsatellite markers. A total of 216 A. tokioensis and 196 A. agrestis from six sites in Vermont USA were analyzed. Although all worms were morphologically hermaphroditic, all the A. agrestis lacked the male pore (the structure allowing pass of sperm between individuals), and only 19% of the A. tokioensis possessed the male pore. All A. tokioensis earthworms were triploid (scored for three alleles for at least 1 locus, and usually several), and A. agrestis was a mix of triploid and diploid individuals. Notable was the high proportion (80%) of A. agrestis earthworms that were diploid at one site. There was clearly clonal reproduction, with identical seven- locus genotypes observed for earthworms from each site, with as many as 45 individuals with the identical genotype at one site. However, the earthworms were also genetically diverse, with 14 genotypes observed for A. tokioensis and 54 for A. agrestis, and with many singleton genotypes (a single individual). Most genotypes (71% for A. tokioensis and 92% for A. agrestis) were found at a single site. The greatest number of genotypes was found at a commercial nursery where fully 23/26 A. agrestis earthworms were singleton genotypes. As expected for the pattern of private clone alleles at sites, several measures of geographic genetic differentiation were positive, and as expected for triploid systems, an AMOVA analysis showed high within-individual genetic diversity. The paradox of clear clonal reproduction, but with a great number of genotypes for each species, and the mix of triploid and diploid individuals could be explained if the worms have been sexually reproductive, with the switch to the uniparental system only recently (or even if sexual reproduction is episodic). Last, a large number of microsatellite loci were recovered for each species and there sequence and suggested PCR primers are provided for free use by other researchers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic population structure and reproductive system of two invasive Asian earthworms,Amynthas tokioensisandAmynthas agrestis

Nouri-Aiin

Connolly

Keough

et al. 2022

PeerJ

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“…For instance, earthworm invasion was shown to reduce mycorrhizal fungi and the diversity and density of several soil-fauna groups (Ferlian et al 2018). However, there was also a lot of variation between studies and a strong focus on soil mesofauna, with limited knowledge on soil macro-and microfauna (Ferlian et al 2018; but see Burtis et al 2014 andMcCay andScull 2019 for macrofauna responses). Additionally, information regarding earthworm invasion effects on soil-fauna biomass or different measures of biodiversity, is rare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Earthworm invasion has been heavily studied in northern North American forest ecosystems (Hendrix and Bohlen 2002, Bohlen et al 2004, Hendrix et al 2008). Although there are a few native earthworm species with significant northern ranges, also inside the previously‐glaciated area (Hendrix and Bohlen 2002, Csuzdi et al 2017, McCay et al 2017, Ikeda et al 2020), most earthworm species present in northern North America today have been naturally absent since the last glaciation (James and Hendrix 2004) and have only been re‐introduced by European settlers (Bohlen et al 2004) a few hundred years ago. Northern North American forests provide a perfect example of how an organism group that is functionally different from native fauna groups present across large parts of the continent can easily invade and have dramatic impacts on natural ecosystems (Ferlian et al 2018, Eisenhauer et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm invasion causes declines across soil fauna size classes and biodiversity facets in northern North American forests

Eisenhauer

Ferlian

Thakur

et al. 2021

Oikos

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Anthropogenic pressures alter the biodiversity, structure and organization of biological communities with severe consequences for ecosystem processes. Species invasion is such a human-induced ecosystem change with pronounced impacts on recipient ecosystems. Around the globe, earthworms invade habitats and impact abiotic soil conditions and a wide range of above-and belowground organisms. In northern North America, where earthworms have been largely absent since the last glaciation period and most earthworm species present today have only been (re-)introduced a few hundred years ago, invasion impacts have been intensively studied. However, despite several studies assessing impacts of invasive earthworms on soil fauna, studies have rarely investigated the simultaneous responses of different soil-fauna size groups and biodiversity facets which might respond differently to earthworm invasion and independently affect ecosystem processes. Our study goes beyond previously-established knowledge on earthworm-invasion effects by simultaneously assessing differences in four biodiversity facets, namely the abundance, biomass, richness and Shannon index of soil invertebrate macro-, mesoand microfauna communities between high-and low-invasion status plots (n = 80) and in relation to invasion intensity measured as earthworm biomass across four northern North American forests sampled between 2016 and 2017. Across forests and soil-fauna groups, we found reduced abundance (−33 to −45%) and richness (−18 to −25%) in high compared to low-invasion status areas. Additionally, meso-(−14%) and microfauna biomass (−38%) and macro-(−7%) and microfauna Shannon index (−8%) were reduced. Higher invasion intensity (earthworm biomass) was additionally related to reduced soil-fauna biodiversity. While the studied biodiversity facet was important for the soil fauna response, soil-fauna size group was comparably unimportant. Given the global ubiquity of earthworm invasion and the importance of soil fauna for key ecosystem processes, our observational results help to assess future impacts of this invasion and the consequences for anthropogenically-altered ecosystem functioning.

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“…Although there are several native North American earthworms’ species in northern North America ( McCay et al, 2017 ), most invasive species were introduced from Europe ( Gates, 1982 ) and Asia ( Kinberg, 1867 ). A second wave of invasions by Asian earthworms, collectively named “pheretimoids”, is currently in progress in North America ( Chang, Szlavecz & Buyer, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biocontrol of invasive pheretimoid earthworms using Beauveria bassiana

Nouri-Aiin

Görres

2021

PeerJ

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Background Invasive species cause enormous costs of over $120 billion to the U.S. economy. Among biological invasions, the invasion by pheretimoid earthworms has gone relatively unnoticed and their invasion imposes yet unknown damage on USA agriculture and horticulture. The main dispersal is with horticultural goods such as plant material and composts. Pheretimoids affect commercially important hardwood forest. With no chemical agents currently certified for earthworm control nor any best horticultural practices, slowing the invasion is difficult. Methods In this study we measured the efficacy of a commercial entomopathogenic fungal isolate of B. bassiana (BotaniGard®) to kill pheretimoid earthworms under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments of B. bassiana were applied: The commercial product as per label, re-cultured commercial B. bassiana, 15 g and 25 g millet grains mycotized with recultured product. In all, three bioassays were conducted in 2 consecutive years with two batches of BotaniGard®. Results With fresh batches, all B. bassiana treatments with re-cultured product resulted in greater than 70% mortality within 4 weeks. Mortality was less than 60% when BotaniGard® was used as prescribed by the label. When using 1-year old spores (refrigerated at 4 °C), mortality rates for B. bassiana treatments were less than 20% and not significantly different from the controls. However, B. bassiana still affected the earthworms by slowing their development from juvenile to adult stage. Conclusion B. bassiana was effective against pheretimoid earthworms. Overall, mycotized millet grains did not significantly increase mortality over the re-cultured, directly applied B. bassiana spores. More experimentation is needed to find the mode of action of the re-cultured B. bassiana before investigating ways to improve the efficacy of B. bassiana when applied as prescribed on the label.

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Distribution and Habitat of the Endemic Earthworm Eisenoides lonnbergi (Michaelsen) in the Northeastern United States

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

Genetic population structure and reproductive system of two invasive Asian earthworms,Amynthas tokioensisandAmynthas agrestis

Genetic population structure and reproductive system of two invasive Asian earthworms,Amynthas tokioensisandAmynthas agrestis

Earthworm invasion causes declines across soil fauna size classes and biodiversity facets in northern North American forests

Biocontrol of invasive pheretimoid earthworms using Beauveria bassiana

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