Recovery of Native Earthworms in Abandoned Tropical Pastures

León, Yaniria Sánchez-de; Zou, Xiaoming; Borges, Sonia; Ruan, Honghua

doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2003.02098.x

Cited by 45 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Land use history plays thus a major role in determining the abundance and community structure of earthworms and the establishment of exotic earthworms in areas previously inhabited by native worms. For example, in the tropics, the conversion of forest to pastures has been associated with significant decreases in soil macroinvertebrate diversity (Lavelle and Pashanasi, 1989) and an increased dominance of a few exotic earthworm species that can persist along gradients of plant succession after disturbance (León et al, 2003;Zou and González, 1997). Although invasion by P. corethrurus has been also observed in undisturbed habitats (González et al, 2006;Hendrix et al, 1999), it seems that land use conversion is a main reason for P. corethrurus dominance in different parts of the world (Marichal et al, 2010;Zou et al, 2006).…”

Section: Components Of P Corethrurus Invasion Successmentioning

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: Components Of P Corethrurus Invasion Successmentioning

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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“…Once an introduced species has been established in a new place, the site and species characteristics seem to be key factors determining its spread [82]. In contrast to introduced species, native earthworms are not as tolerant to a shift to dryer grassland microclimate conditions, and are mostly restricted to natural ecosystems [81,83,84]. For example, the introduced P. corethrurus can reach an abundance of 1000 individuals per square meter (25 cm deep) in disturbed agricultural pastures [83].…”

Section: Invertebrate Responses To Disturbance Gradientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Biology Research across Latitude, Elevation and Disturbance Gradients: A Review of Forest Studies from Puerto Rico during the Past 25 Years

González

Lodge

2017

Forests

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Progress in understanding changes in soil biology in response to latitude, elevation and disturbance gradients has generally lagged behind studies of above-ground plants and animals owing to methodological constraints and high diversity and complexity of interactions in below-ground food webs. New methods have opened research opportunities in below-ground systems, leading to a rapid increase in studies of below-ground organisms and processes. Here, we summarize results of forest soil biology research over the past 25 years in Puerto Rico as part of a 75th Anniversary Symposium on research of the USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry. These results are presented in the context of changes in soil and forest floor biota across latitudinal, elevation and disturbance gradients. Invertebrate detritivores in these tropical forests exerted a stronger influence on leaf decomposition than in cold temperate forests using a common substrate. Small changes in arthropods brought about using different litterbag mesh sizes induced larger changes in leaf litter mass loss and nutrient mineralization. Fungi and bacteria in litter and soil of wet forests were surprisingly sensitive to drying, leading to changes in nutrient cycling. Tropical fungi also showed sensitivity to environmental fluctuations and gradients as fungal phylotype composition in soil had a high turnover along an elevation gradient in Puerto Rico. Globally, tropical soil fungi had smaller geographic ranges than temperate fungi. Invertebrate activity accelerates decomposition of woody debris, especially in lowland dry forest, but invertebrates are also important in early stages of log decomposition in middle elevation wet forests. Large deposits of scoltine bark beetle frass from freshly fallen logs coincide with nutrient immobilization by soil microbial biomass and a relatively low density of tree roots in soil under newly fallen logs. Tree roots shifted their foraging locations seasonally in relation to decaying logs. Native earthworms were sensitive to disturbance and were absent from tree plantations, whereas introduced earthworms were found across elevation and disturbance gradients.

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“…Exceptional reproductive strategies of P. corethrurus, such as a high rate of cocoon production and hatching success, a short development time, and the ability of parthenogenesis, critically influence the local native earthworm community in the invaded soils [2]. The rapid population growth of P. corethrurus may increase competition pressure on food resources to the local native earthworm community [22]. The relevance of resource availability to the population growth of P. corethrurus and its significance in a P. corethrurus invasion is certainly a topic in need of future research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pontoscolex corethrurus has invaded multiple habitats in Puerto Rico, in contrast to the restricted distribution of the native earthworms in mature forests [21,22]. Competition pressure from invasive P. corethrurus to native earthworms has been suggested to be responsible for the absence of native earthworms in most disturbed areas, i.e., pasture and young forests [22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resource Utilization by Native and Invasive Earthworms and Their Effects on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in Puerto Rican Soils

Huang

González

Hendrix

2016

Forests

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Abstract:Resource utilization by earthworms affects soil C and N dynamics and further colonization of invasive earthworms. By applying 13 C-labeled Tabebuia heterophylla leaves and 15 N-labeled Andropogon glomeratus grass, we investigated resource utilization by three earthworm species (invasive endogeic Pontoscolex corethrurus, native anecic Estherella sp., and native endogeic Onychochaeta borincana) and their effects on soil C and N dynamics in Puerto Rican soils in a 22-day laboratory experiment. Changes of 13 C/C and 15 N/N in soils, earthworms, and microbial populations were analyzed to evaluate resource utilization by earthworms and their influences on C and N dynamics. Estherella spp. utilized the 13 C-labeled litter; however, its utilization on the 13 C-labeled litter reduced when cultivated with P. corethrurus and O. borincana. Both P. corethrurus and O. borincana utilized the 13 C-labeled litter and 15 C-labeled grass roots and root exudates. Pontoscolex corethrurus facilitated soil respiration by stimulating 13 C-labeled microbial activity; however, this effect was suppressed possibly due to the changes in the microbial activities or community when coexisting with O. borincana. Increased soil N mineralization by individual Estherella spp. and O. borincana was reduced in the mixed-species treatments. The rapid population growth of P. corethrurus may increase competition pressure on food resources on the local earthworm community. The relevance of resource availability to the population growth of P. corethrurus and its significance as an invasive species is a topic in need of future research.

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Recovery of Native Earthworms in Abandoned Tropical Pastures

Cited by 45 publications

References 25 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

Soil Biology Research across Latitude, Elevation and Disturbance Gradients: A Review of Forest Studies from Puerto Rico during the Past 25 Years

Resource Utilization by Native and Invasive Earthworms and Their Effects on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in Puerto Rican Soils

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