Pandora’s box contained bait: The global problem of introduced earthworms
| Authors: | Mac A. Callaham |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173426 |
| Source: | Annual Reviews in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 39:593-613. |
Abstract
Introduced exotic earthworms now occur in every biogeographic region inall but the driest or coldest habitat types on Earth. The global distributionof a few species (e.g., but now approximately 120 such peregrine species are recognized tobe widespread from regional to global scales, mainly via human activities.Species adapted to human transport and to colonization of disturbed habitatsare most widespread and are the principal invasive species.We identifya number of endogenous and exogenous factors that may contribute to thesuccessful establishment and spread of peregrine species. Quantification ofthese factors may help to determine why certain species become invasivewhile others do not. Recent advances in theory and modeling of biologicalinvasions and in molecular techniques should prove fruitful in improving ourunderstanding of invasive earthworms, as well as in predicting their impactson ecosystems.