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Tools for monitoring and study of peregrine pheretimoid earthworms (Megascolecidae)
Pedobiologia
  • Timothy S. McCay, Colgate University
  • George Brown, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa
  • Mac A. Callaham, USDA Forest Service
  • Chih Han Chang, National Taiwan University
  • Andrea Dávalos, SUNY Cortland
  • Annise Dobson, Yale University
  • Josef H. Görres, University of Vermont
  • Bradley M. Herrick, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Samuel W. James, Maharishi University Management
  • Marie R. Johnston, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Damhnait McHugh, Colgate University
  • Tanya Minteer, Colgate University
  • Jean David Moore, Ministère des Forêts de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec
  • Maryam Nouri-Aiin, University of Vermont
  • Marta Novo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
  • Jaime Ortiz-Pachar, Cornell University
  • Rebecca A. Pinder, Columbia-Greene Community College
  • Justin B. Richardson, University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Bruce A. Snyder, Georgia College & State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract

Peregrine pheretimoid earthworms, commonly known as jumping worms, are members of the family Megascolecidae that have become widely established outside of their native ranges. In many parts of the world this represents a second wave of earthworm invasions, following the introduction of peregrine European earthworms in the family Lumbricidae during the colonial era. Forest ecologists, turf managers, gardeners, and other land managers are concerned about the observed or presumed negative effects of jumping worms on invaded habitats. Although research on jumping worms has accelerated in recent decades, our understanding of their ecology remains limited. We compiled techniques useful to researchers working to fill voids in our understanding. Similar past efforts have focused on tools used to study common European species. Differences in life cycle, behavior, morphology, and physiology make it difficult to transfer experiences with European earthworms to pheretimoids. For example, the loss of reproductive features in many pheretimoid populations poses a challenge for identification, and techniques for individually tagging lumbricid earthworms have been less successful for megascolecids. The active and ongoing expansion of pheretimoid populations in many areas requires increased attention on distributed methods, such as citizen-science protocols, for detecting and tracking their expansion. Finally, the desire to limit populations of pheretimoids, including those invading gardens and other environments that might be successfully restored, has exposed the lack of options for targeted, effective control of unwanted earthworms. We identify opportunities to address these voids in our methodological tool kit and encourage the adaptation of techniques previously used in the study and management of other invasive animals.

Department
Biological and Environmental Sciences
Comments

© 2020 The Author(s)

Published by Elsevier GmbH. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.

DOI
10.1016/j.pedobi.2020.150669
Citation Information
McCay, T. S., Brown, G., Callaham, M. A., Chang, C., Dávalos, A., Dobson, A., Görres, J. H., Herrick, B. M., James, S. W., Johnston, M. R., McHugh, D., Minteer, T., Moore, J. D., Nouri-Aiin, M., Novo, M., Ortiz-Pachar, J., Pinder, R. A., Richardson, J. B., & Snyder, B. A. (2020). Tools for monitoring and study of peregrine pheretimoid earthworms (Megascolecidae). Pedobiologia, 83.