Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities
Abstract Human‐mediated dispersal of non‐native earthworms can cause substantial changes to the functioning and composition of ecosystems previously earthworm‐free. Some of these earthworm species have the potential to “geoengineer” soils and increase plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Yet the possible cons...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4212 https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecy.4212 |
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crwiley:10.1002/ecy.4212 2024-06-02T08:15:25+00:00 Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities Jonsson, Hanna Olofsson, Johan Blume‐Werry, Gesche Klaminder, Jonatan Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4212 https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecy.4212 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ecology volume 105, issue 2 ISSN 0012-9658 1939-9170 journal-article 2023 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4212 2024-05-03T11:39:21Z Abstract Human‐mediated dispersal of non‐native earthworms can cause substantial changes to the functioning and composition of ecosystems previously earthworm‐free. Some of these earthworm species have the potential to “geoengineer” soils and increase plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Yet the possible consequences of increased plant N concentrations on rodent grazing remains poorly understood. In this study, we present findings from a common garden experiment with two tundra communities, meadow (forb dominated) and heath (shrub dominated), half of them subjected to 4 years of earthworm presence ( Lumbricus spp. and Aporrectodea spp.). Within four summers, our earthworm treatment changed plant community composition by increasing graminoid density by, on average, 94% in the heath vegetation and by 49% in the meadow. Rodent winter grazing was more intense on plants growing in soils with earthworms, an effect that coincided with higher N concentrations in plants, indicating a higher palatability. Even though earthworms reduced soil moisture, plant community productivity, as indicated by vegetation greenness (normalized difference vegetation index), was not negatively impacted. We conclude that earthworm‐induced changes in plant composition and trophic interactions may fundamentally alter the functioning of tundra ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Tundra Wiley Online Library Ecology 105 2 |
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English |
description |
Abstract Human‐mediated dispersal of non‐native earthworms can cause substantial changes to the functioning and composition of ecosystems previously earthworm‐free. Some of these earthworm species have the potential to “geoengineer” soils and increase plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Yet the possible consequences of increased plant N concentrations on rodent grazing remains poorly understood. In this study, we present findings from a common garden experiment with two tundra communities, meadow (forb dominated) and heath (shrub dominated), half of them subjected to 4 years of earthworm presence ( Lumbricus spp. and Aporrectodea spp.). Within four summers, our earthworm treatment changed plant community composition by increasing graminoid density by, on average, 94% in the heath vegetation and by 49% in the meadow. Rodent winter grazing was more intense on plants growing in soils with earthworms, an effect that coincided with higher N concentrations in plants, indicating a higher palatability. Even though earthworms reduced soil moisture, plant community productivity, as indicated by vegetation greenness (normalized difference vegetation index), was not negatively impacted. We conclude that earthworm‐induced changes in plant composition and trophic interactions may fundamentally alter the functioning of tundra ecosystems. |
author2 |
Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jonsson, Hanna Olofsson, Johan Blume‐Werry, Gesche Klaminder, Jonatan |
spellingShingle |
Jonsson, Hanna Olofsson, Johan Blume‐Werry, Gesche Klaminder, Jonatan Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
author_facet |
Jonsson, Hanna Olofsson, Johan Blume‐Werry, Gesche Klaminder, Jonatan |
author_sort |
Jonsson, Hanna |
title |
Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
title_short |
Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
title_full |
Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
title_fullStr |
Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
title_sort |
cascading effects of earthworm invasion increase graminoid density and rodent grazing intensities |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4212 https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecy.4212 |
genre |
Tundra |
genre_facet |
Tundra |
op_source |
Ecology volume 105, issue 2 ISSN 0012-9658 1939-9170 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4212 |
container_title |
Ecology |
container_volume |
105 |
container_issue |
2 |
_version_ |
1800739581882007552 |