Effects of jumping worms on European earthworms and soil properties

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.advisor Cameron, Erin K.
dc.contributor.advisor Philips, Helen
dc.coverage.spatial Oromocto (N.B.)
dc.creator Bennett, Samantha M.
dc.date.accessioned 2023-05-02T15:55:13Z
dc.date.available 2023-05-02T15:55:13Z
dc.date.issued 2023-04-30
dc.identifier.uri http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/31658
dc.description 1 online resource (49 pages) : colour maps, colour graphs
dc.description Includes abstract.
dc.description Includes bibliographical references (pages 41-49).
dc.description.abstract Earthworms are ecosystem engineers which alter soil structure and impact other organisms and ecosystem functioning. In 2014, pheretimoid “jumping worms” (Megascolecidae spp.) were discovered in Ontario, Canada, with later discoveries in New Brunswick (2021), and Nova Scotia (2022). Jumping worms are having substantial impacts in the northeastern United States, including effects on nutrient cycling and other soil organisms. In Canada, little research has been done to examine spread or effects of jumping worms since they have established only recently. Thus, we sampled at a residential property in Oromocto, New Brunswick, which was the first location where jumping worms were found in the province. Our objectives were to evaluate: (1) how jumping worms impact soil properties (i.e., nitrogen, carbon); (2) how their presence impacts the abundance of European earthworms; and (3) the effectiveness of two jumping worm sampling methods. We found that jumping worms did not have significant impacts on European earthworm species or soil carbon, but they did have significant impacts on soil nitrogen levels. Our results suggest the existence of a positive relationship between jumping worm abundance and soil nitrogen levels when jumping worm abundance is low. Also, both sampling methods (i.e., mustard solution and wooden discs) were equally effective at detecting the presence of jumping worms at a site. Over the longer term, we hope to track the expansion of this population in order to determine rates of spread. en_CA
dc.description.provenance Submitted by Greg Hilliard (greg.hilliard@smu.ca) on 2023-05-02T15:55:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Bennett_Samantha_Honours_2023.pdf: 513217 bytes, checksum: bf8576d035548d8b227c0cc779719105 (MD5) en
dc.description.provenance Made available in DSpace on 2023-05-02T15:55:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bennett_Samantha_Honours_2023.pdf: 513217 bytes, checksum: bf8576d035548d8b227c0cc779719105 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2023-04-30 en
dc.language.iso en en_CA
dc.publisher Halifax, N.S. : Saint Mary's University
dc.title Effects of jumping worms on European earthworms and soil properties en_CA
dc.type Text en_CA
thesis.degree.name Bachelor of Science (Honours Environmental Science)
thesis.degree.level Undergraduate
thesis.degree.discipline Environmental Science
thesis.degree.grantor Saint Mary's University (Halifax, N.S.)
 Find Full text

Files in this item

 
 

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record