Invasive earthworms of North America

Common card · No. 418655

Invasive species of earthworms from the suborder Lumbricina have been expanding their range in North America. Earthworms are considered one of the most abundant macroinvertebrates in the soil of ecosystems in temperate and tropical climates. There are around 3,000 species known worldwide. They are considered keystone species in their native habitats of Asia and Europe because, as detritivores, they alter many different variables of their ecosystem. Their introduction to North America has had marked effects on the nutrient cycles and soil profiles in temperate forests. These earthworms increase the cycling and leaching of nutrients by breaking up decaying organic matter and spreading it into the soil. This thins out the soil rapidly because earthworms population can grow quickly since most earthworms have large broods, short time to sexual maturity, resilient cocoons, are hermaphrodites (easier to find a mate) and a few such as Amynthas do not need mates through asexual reproduction called...

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