TY  - JOUR
A1  - Saltmarsh, Deanna Marie
A1  - Bowser, Matthew L.
A1  - Morton, John M.
A1  - Lang, Shirley
A1  - Shain, Daniel
A1  - Dial, Roman
T1  - Distribution and abundance of exotic earthworms within a boreal forest system in southcentral Alaska
T2  - NeoBiota
N2  - Little is known about exotic earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) in Alaska outside its southeastern panhandle. This study documents the distribution of exotic earthworms in the relatively undisturbed Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR), a large, primarily wilderness refuge in southcentral Alaska. We sampled 69 sites near boat launches, along road corridors, and in low human impact areas > 5 km from the road, finding three species of earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra, Dendrodrilus rubidus, and Lumbricus terrestris). Most road sites (90%) and boat launches (80%) contained earthworms; half (50%) of low human impact sites contained earthworms. Distance to roads was the only significant factor in predicting earthworm occurrence; soil pH, soil moisture, leaf litter depth, and vegetation cover were not. The disparate distributions of these three species suggest that within the KNWR road construction and vehicle traffic played a role in dispersal of the widespread, abundant Dendrobaena octaedra and uncommon Dendrodrilus rubidus; bait abandonment appeared to be the primary method of introduction of Lumbricus terrestris. While the distribution of harmful anecic earthworms in KNWR is currently limited, the prohibition of Lumbricus spp. as bait within conservation units in Alaska may be warranted.
KW  - Lumbricidae
KW  - earthworm invasion
KW  - taiga
KW  - bait abandonment
KW  - non-native species
Y1  - 2016
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/45508
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-455082
VL  - 2016
IS  - 28
SP  - 67
EP  - 86
ER  -