RE: [compost_tea] Re: non-native species of earthworms

From: Mike Bosko <mjbosko_at_jmtsystems.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 12:24:52 -0700

If I had enough fingers to count how many animals/plants have 'immigrated'
to other places, I'd be looking much goofy'er than I do today.

I know there are problems with species being immigrated to new locations,
but mosquitoes have traveled on the backs of birds, worms in the guts of
animals, dogs in shipping containers, etc. Sometimes its not a good thing,
other times its hardly noticed. But yet, ol Ma Nature still seems to have
managed over years and years of this occurring. I tend to think our soil
food web has much more benefit and power than even Elaine has brought to our
attention.

Just my penny's worth.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Leonard [mailto:kirk_at_oregonatural.com]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 10:59 AM
To: Compost Tea Group
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: non-native species of earthworms

Chris, Autumn & Elaine -- Thanks for the good info. I stand corrected,
although I still think if there's a problem it's our fault, not the worms...
The list of things, substances, plants, animals we have put or let into the
wrong places is long, and you can't blame them for simply surviving. -- Kirk

> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 08:38:42 -0400
> From: chris reid <reidchris_at_earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: non-native species of earthworms
>
> [snip]
>
> The researchers are comparatively conservative in their claims about what
is
> happening in the ecosystems (that is, compared to some of the media
coverage
> that hypes it up a la "the sky is falling"). However, there are
numerous
> ways in which soil is impacted and if certain worms are contributing to
> creating a complex of factors that bodes ill for native plants, there is
> value on realizing the potential problem sooner rather than later, and
> having to take only a little corrective action instead of being faced with
a
> major disaster. To see what happens when "it's not really a problem" is
the
> guiding approach in ecological interventions, I find the book Killer Algae
> instructive.
>
> How does this relate to making compost tea? Maybe: know what species you
> are using to create vermicompost, and be clear on the impact, if any, on
the
> environment of their escape. Don't throw your fishing worms into the
woods,
> especially in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota...
>
I agree 100%. Is there a list of possible problem worms, anywhere? Or
listings of safe, native worms by bioregions? I don't know off the top but
I will look for more info and get back. Here's hoping Eisenia turn out to be
ok, as they seem both to be everywhere and among the most adaptable, hmm?
K.







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Received on Fri Jun 13 2003 - 18:19:33 EDT

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