Response of endemic and exotic earthworm communities to ecological restoration. Issue 6 (2nd August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyer, Stéphane; Kim, Young‐Nam; Bowie, Mike H.; Lefort, Marie‐Caroline; Dickinson, Nicholas M.
• Is Part Of: Restoration ecology. Volume 24:Issue 6(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 717
• Page End: 721
• Publication Date: 2016-08-02
• Subjects: earthworm abundance -- earthworm biomass -- interspecific competition -- New Zealand -- recolonization -- soil fauna; Restoration ecology -- Periodicals; Reclamation of land -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7153
• DOI: 10.1111/rec.12416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-2971

Abstract

Abstract : Land conversion and environmental changes associated with agronomic practices are believed to have led to the disappearance of New Zealand endemic earthworms from agricultural land. Introduced European earthworms have since largely replaced endemic species in farming systems. We investigated the impact of vegetation restoration on earthworm communities. Recolonization by endemic earthworms increased with time after restoration at two studied sites in the South Island of New Zealand. However, exotic species did not disappear with restoration of native vegetation, even after 30 years. The persistence of exotic species leads to the cohabitation of the two communities and potential for interspecific competition.