Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic
It is now well established that European earthworms are re-shaping formerly glaciated forests in North America with dramatic ecological consequences. However, few have considered the potential invasiveness of this species assemblage in the European arctic. Here we argue that some earthworm species (...
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Umeå universitet, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap
2018
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ftumeauniv:oai:DiVA.org:umu-148720 2023-10-09T21:47:59+02:00 Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic Wackett, Adrian A. Yoo, Kyungsoo Olofsson, Johan Klaminder, Jonatan 2018 application/pdf http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-148720 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 eng eng Umeå universitet, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap Biological Invasions, 1387-3547, 2018, 20:6, s. 1377-1386 orcid:0000-0001-8814-0013 http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-148720 doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 ISI:000432717100003 Scopus 2-s2.0-85037091124 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Earthworm invasion Arctic Lumbricidae Land use Hydrochory Ecology Ekologi Article in journal info:eu-repo/semantics/article text 2018 ftumeauniv https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 2023-09-22T13:50:18Z It is now well established that European earthworms are re-shaping formerly glaciated forests in North America with dramatic ecological consequences. However, few have considered the potential invasiveness of this species assemblage in the European arctic. Here we argue that some earthworm species (Lumbricus rubellus, Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea sp.) with great geomorphological impact (geoengineering species) are non-native and invasive in the Fennoscandian arctic birch forests, where they have been introduced by agrarian settlers and most recently through recreational fishing and gardening. Our exploratory surveys indicate no obvious historical dispersal mechanism that can explain early arrival of these earthworms into the Fennoscandian arctic: that is, these species do not appear to establish naturally along coastlines mimicking conditions following deglaciation in Fennoscandia, nor were they spread by early native (Sami) cultures. The importance of anthropogenic sources and the invasive characteristics of L. rubellus and Aporrectodea sp. in the arctic is evident from their radiation outwards from abandoned farms and modern cabin lawns into adjacent arctic birch forests. They appear to outcompete previously established litter-dwelling earthworm species (i.e. Dendrobaena octaedra) that likely colonized the Fennoscandian landscape rapidly following deglaciation via hydrochory and/or dispersal by early Sami settlements. The high geoengineering earthworm biomasses, their recognized ecological impact in other formerly glaciated environments, and their persistence once established leads us to suggest that geoengineering earthworms may pose a potent threat to some of the most remote and protected arctic environments in northern Europe. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian sami sami Umeå University: Publications (DiVA) Arctic Biological Invasions 20 6 1377 1386 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Umeå University: Publications (DiVA) |
op_collection_id |
ftumeauniv |
language |
English |
topic |
Earthworm invasion Arctic Lumbricidae Land use Hydrochory Ecology Ekologi |
spellingShingle |
Earthworm invasion Arctic Lumbricidae Land use Hydrochory Ecology Ekologi Wackett, Adrian A. Yoo, Kyungsoo Olofsson, Johan Klaminder, Jonatan Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
topic_facet |
Earthworm invasion Arctic Lumbricidae Land use Hydrochory Ecology Ekologi |
description |
It is now well established that European earthworms are re-shaping formerly glaciated forests in North America with dramatic ecological consequences. However, few have considered the potential invasiveness of this species assemblage in the European arctic. Here we argue that some earthworm species (Lumbricus rubellus, Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea sp.) with great geomorphological impact (geoengineering species) are non-native and invasive in the Fennoscandian arctic birch forests, where they have been introduced by agrarian settlers and most recently through recreational fishing and gardening. Our exploratory surveys indicate no obvious historical dispersal mechanism that can explain early arrival of these earthworms into the Fennoscandian arctic: that is, these species do not appear to establish naturally along coastlines mimicking conditions following deglaciation in Fennoscandia, nor were they spread by early native (Sami) cultures. The importance of anthropogenic sources and the invasive characteristics of L. rubellus and Aporrectodea sp. in the arctic is evident from their radiation outwards from abandoned farms and modern cabin lawns into adjacent arctic birch forests. They appear to outcompete previously established litter-dwelling earthworm species (i.e. Dendrobaena octaedra) that likely colonized the Fennoscandian landscape rapidly following deglaciation via hydrochory and/or dispersal by early Sami settlements. The high geoengineering earthworm biomasses, their recognized ecological impact in other formerly glaciated environments, and their persistence once established leads us to suggest that geoengineering earthworms may pose a potent threat to some of the most remote and protected arctic environments in northern Europe. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wackett, Adrian A. Yoo, Kyungsoo Olofsson, Johan Klaminder, Jonatan |
author_facet |
Wackett, Adrian A. Yoo, Kyungsoo Olofsson, Johan Klaminder, Jonatan |
author_sort |
Wackett, Adrian A. |
title |
Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
title_short |
Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
title_full |
Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
title_fullStr |
Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the Fennoscandian arctic |
title_sort |
human-mediated introduction of geoengineering earthworms in the fennoscandian arctic |
publisher |
Umeå universitet, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-148720 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian sami sami |
genre_facet |
Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian sami sami |
op_relation |
Biological Invasions, 1387-3547, 2018, 20:6, s. 1377-1386 orcid:0000-0001-8814-0013 http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-148720 doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 ISI:000432717100003 Scopus 2-s2.0-85037091124 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7 |
container_title |
Biological Invasions |
container_volume |
20 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
1377 |
op_container_end_page |
1386 |
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1779310991076491264 |