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Invasive Earthworms

EARTHWORMS ARE INVADING! SOUND LIKE SCIENCE FICTION? CREEPY CRAWLIES ARE MOVING INTO NORTHERN FORESTS, AND AFFECTING NUTRIENT RETENTION IN SOIL.  WE’LL DIG DEEPER ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

PETER GROFFMAN OF THE INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES SAYS NORTH AMERICA IS COLONIZED BY INVASIVE WORM SPECIES THAT BRING PROFOUND CHANGE TO THE SOIL.

GROFFMAN: IF EARTHWORMS COME INTO A SITE LIKE THAT, IN TWO TO FIVE YEARS, THE FOREST FLOOR JUST DISAPPEARS. YOU DON’T HAVE THAT THICK ORGANIC CARPET.

THE WORMS CAN ALSO AFFECT BIODIVERSITY AND A FOREST’S ABILITY TO TAKE CARBON OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND STORE IT IN THE SOIL. HOWEVER, GROFFMAN SAYS YOU CAN HELP CURB THE INVASIVE MARAUDERS.

GROFFMAN: I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH EARTHWORMS AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES AND TO BE ALERT TO CHANGES IN THE FOREST.  EARLY DETECTION IS REALLY KEY TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.     

For more information about how earthworms are affecting the forest floors and what you can do to help, visit http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/ 

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org