Which earthworms are native to the great lakes region

Here, we have a structure. And in this case, they actually compact it. The compaction decreases downward water flow through the soil, drying out the upper soil layers, Resner and her colleagues found.

The worms also change the soil chemistry, decreasing levels of calcium, potassium and phosphorous. The net result is a loss of understory plants — the young trees, ferns and wildflowers that grow in the spaces between big trees.

And without the duff layer, some animals lack a place to live. Editor's note: This article was updated Oct. Email Becky Oskin or follow her beckyoskin. Plant roots often grow along or through worm burrows, taking advantage of the better soil structure, the high nutrient level, and the ease of root expansion in these areas.

The burrowing increases the soil porosity and aids in the movement of air and water. Since worms are important in our soils, here are a few ways to improve worm population:. There have also been reports of crews going into our area fields at night and picking hundreds of worms for the bait market. This is trespassing and not good for the health of our soils.

So if you see people doing this, call the landowner and the police. We need more worms and not less. Kim Cooper has been involved in the agribusiness sector for over 45 years. E arthworms are not native to Michigan and the Great Lakes region, at least not since before glaciers covered the region; they were brought here during European settlement in the s or possibly earlier. Plants, wildlife and forests evolved without any of these creatures around.

Thousands of years ago, glaciers that covered North America and reached as far south as present-day Illinois, Indiana and Ohio wiped out native earthworms. Species from Europe and Asia, most likely introduced unintentionally in ship ballast or the roots of imported plants, have spread throughout North America. Their work has paid off, and the program is verging on drawing more interest than its volunteers can handle.

Sherburne NWR is a mixture of prairie, savanna, woodland and wetland in a rural area about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis, and is itself reclaimed farmland.

The program there has produced the first Worm Watch data from Sherburne County, and Hix and her colleagues have barely scratched the surface of what the refuge has to offer. Hix says the scientists are interested in the variety of terrain in the refuge, and how the worms fare in the different environments. But for Hix the biggest draw of the program is that it brings people out to learn about the refuge, and all of the biology within it.

You can learn a lot about ecosystems through the worm. Do you have a citizen science project that you would like to see covered on EcoTone? Pitch it to llester [at] esa [dot] org. Skip to main content. Share Tweet Email. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Settings Accept All.