Earthworms have transformed the Isle of Rum's landscape(theconversation.com)
theconversation.com
Earthworms have transformed the Isle of Rum's landscape
https://theconversation.com/how-giant-earthworms-have-transformed-the-isle-of-rums-landscape-231638
12 comments
I think the article a bit understates how hard it is to go from arid to fertile soil, which is where those early earthworms did a lot of work. Earthworms are also really good at spreading out from their initial source. When I bought my house the land in the back was turning to dust and nothing would really grow on it. I introduced chickens and vermicomposting, as well as Scottish moss (which I saw a lot of in this article!) The combination of a fertilization source, composting worms, and a dense heat resistant turf cannot be understated.
An article found on the same site also shows how these worms are also foreign to North America for example and can be a problem: https://theconversation.com/earthworms-are-our-friends-but-t...
The original meta-analysis from UC Davis is a lot better than the paper they cite on Boreal forests: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/global-worming-earthworms-contr...
> They found that the presence of earthworms increased nitrous oxide emissions from soil by 42 percent and carbon dioxide emissions from soil by 33 percent. But they found no indications that earthworms affect soil organic carbon stocks — the carbon stored within the soil.
I'm not actually sure what to make of that statement. It seems like they're claiming worms disturb "not yet sunk" nitrogen and carbon dioxide but don't really affect anything deep in the soil. That tracks for what I know about what worms prefer compaction and temperature wise. That said, there are other organisms like mites that are far more efficient than worms - they just don't produce compost. I guess my naive question here is wouldn't that nitrogen and carbon already have high potential for release?
> They found that the presence of earthworms increased nitrous oxide emissions from soil by 42 percent and carbon dioxide emissions from soil by 33 percent. But they found no indications that earthworms affect soil organic carbon stocks — the carbon stored within the soil.
I'm not actually sure what to make of that statement. It seems like they're claiming worms disturb "not yet sunk" nitrogen and carbon dioxide but don't really affect anything deep in the soil. That tracks for what I know about what worms prefer compaction and temperature wise. That said, there are other organisms like mites that are far more efficient than worms - they just don't produce compost. I guess my naive question here is wouldn't that nitrogen and carbon already have high potential for release?
To be honest after reading this article I think the title should be “Humans have transformed the isle of Rum’s landscape”
And with thoughtful care could do a better job a transforming it some more.
How big is "Giant"
30 foot long earthworms with an 8 foot wide diameter?
Could it be earthworm Jim?
Nah its humans
30 foot long earthworms with an 8 foot wide diameter?
Could it be earthworm Jim?
Nah its humans
Alaska and the UK have some monster earth worms in general; what made those unique, imo, was being monsterous but also being composting. Most big earth worms are not composting worms.
per the article: up to 13g or 3x the size of a normal earthworm. the photo in the article shows one that's just shy of two hand lengths.
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