Do Invasive Earthworms Affect the Functional Traits of Native Plants?

ABSTRACT: As ecosystem engineers, invasive earthworms are one of the main drivers of plant community changes in North American forests previously devoid of earthworms. One explanation for these community changes is the effects of earthworms on the reproduction, recruitment, and development of plant species. However, few studies have investigated functional trait responses of native plants to earthworm invasion to explain the mechanisms underlying community changes. In a mesocosm (Ecotron) experiment, we set up a plant community composed of two herb and two grass species commonly found in northern North American forests under two earthworm treatments (presence vs. absence). We measured earthworm effects on above- and belowground plant biomass and functional traits after 3 months of experiment. Our re

SUBMITTER: Thouvenot L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8007962 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature