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Invasive Earthworms and Plants in Indiana Old- and Second-Growth Forests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kevin D. Gibson ,
Patricia M. Quackenbush ,
Nancy C. Emery ,
Michael A. Jenkins  and
Eileen J. Kladivko
Kevin D. Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Patricia M. Quackenbush
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, University of Missouri, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211
Nancy C. Emery
Affiliation:
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Department of Biology, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Michael A. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Eileen J. Kladivko
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: kgibson@purdue.edu
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Abstract

Hardwood forests in eastern North America are being colonized by multiple nonnative plant and animal species. Colonization rates can be affected by stand structure and distance from edge. We sampled earthworm densities and understory plant species cover in transects located in paired old- and second-growth forests in Indiana. Two 100-m transects were established within each forest stand during late April to early May in each year. One transect was placed parallel to and within 5 m of a south- or west-facing edge. The second transect was placed parallel to the first. but at no less than 100 m from any edge. Nonnative earthworms and plants were found in forest edge and interior regardless of structural stage (second-growth vs. old-growth). The number of native plant species decreased linearly as the densities of adult Lumbricus and Aporrectodea earthworms and the percent cover of multiflora rose (an invasive plant species) increased. Densities of L. terrestris and Aporrectodea earthworms and percent cover of multiflora rose cumulatively explained 39% of the variation in the number of native plant species found in transects across the state. However, multivariate analyses suggested that the species composition of Indiana understory plant communities was affected more by geography than by earthworm densities. Our results suggest that nonnative earthworms and plants are ubiquitous in Indiana hardwood forests and that they may reduce the number of native plant species.

Keywords

Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murr. ROSMUnightcrawler, Lumbricus terrestris L.Edge effectshardwood forestinvasionLumbricus rubellusplant communityRosa multiflora
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 161 - 174
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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