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

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 11:55:04 -0700

Steve -- Thanks for the good insights. I strongly agree. As a jalapeno fan
myself, I would like meeting your dog, I'm sure.

> Since apparently we've only identified 3% of the life in the soil, I would
> think that we're flying blind right now. [big snip] But you know, Nature
> has a way of always ending up on the winning end. <

I haven't had much success finding proof of damage by worms. The New York
IES work, which seems contentious and inconclusive to me, didn't say where
the existing "invasive" worm plots came from, unless I missed something, and
I can't help but think they may have been native, if not omnipresent. The
difference between an invasion of worms and an indigenous species simply
moving around seems relevant, also.

The introduced epigeic worm wouldn't thrive in most of the forest floors
I've ever seen, and yes if conditions are right epigeic worms will live and
accelerate fixed nitrogen availability in topsoil, and move carbon around.
Is that a problem?

Anybody found anything more conclusive out there? Any names of nasty
earthworms? I would not be jumping for "exotic" ones, I suppose...

-- Kirk








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Received on Sat Jun 21 2003 - 00:16:47 EDT

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