First, let me say that I'm not attacking bpgreen because he/she was repeating info that is widely accepted as truth. He/she didn't just pull the info out of his/her rear. That being said, in another thread it was written:
"Earthworms were pretty much wiped out over much of North America during the ice age and much of the rich prairie soil developed without any earthworm activity at all. The soil was black and rich in organic matter (OM) largely because prairie grasses have deep root systems. The roots would penetrate deep into the soil, but there is constant new growth and death of old roots going on. In some areas, particularly forests, worms are becoming a real problem, because the forests evolved with no earthworm activity and the earthworms that have been introduced are devastating the forest floor."
This is not fact. I've read this, too. I even thought, "well that makes sense". Until I started realizing the common claims are based on a complete elimination of any other variables. Also, the research is so incomplete it is shameful that they make any claims. They even make a point to say in every article words like "may" and "probably" because the claims are based largely on assumptions. One thing every study I have read leaves out is the human element aside from Europeans carrying in invasive worms starting a few hundred years ago.
1) It is claimed the worms are causing the soil to erode in these forests. What is not mentioned in any study or article I have read on invasive worms is the fact that most of these forests have been deforested in the last 200 years. The root systems of the old forests were much more extensive and held a lot of soil in place and the young trees just can't do the job as well. Plus, those young trees didn't naturally occur. They are largely planted by people in ways nature doesn't accommodate so well. Deforestation also has caused the forest floor to be more susceptible to the wind and drifting of leaves. This exposes the bare floor to the elements to increase erosion. Bigger trees provided higher windblocks and soaked up more of the water that now runs off with the soil.
2) Native Americans. Their agricultural abilities have been strongly downplayed by a Eurocentric culture meant to demonize these once advanced people as savages. It's so easily forgotten that they were here cultivating the lands for thousands of years before the European settlers, yet every study I have seen only attributes the spread of the earthworm by European settlers rather than concentrating on the species that could only have been introduced by those settlers such as the L. Rubellus. That should be throwing a red flag up to anyone that has even the slightest modern grasp of the extent of Native American culture and trade throughout the entire N. American continent which our high school textbooks amazingly still choose to downplay. There are over 100 native species of earthworm in the US. It stands to reason that those worms traveled the same with Native American trade as it is claimed the exotic species traveled with European infiltration.
3) Deer. These studies mention the seedlings of trees disappearing. They fail to mention that man has caused a huge imbalance in the population of herbivorous animals that once were kept in check by predators such as wolves. This over population is, as always happens, causing the animals to eat everything and even turn to eating things they wouldn't otherwise when there are natural population controls beyond eventual starvation. Plenty of people recognize this and it is one reason there are so many "special" hunts for population control.
4) It is claimed that earthworms only travel a half mile in 100 years. Well that's incredibly misleading. I could say that an acorn travels 0 miles in 1000 years and this would be equally misleading in any study. We all know that the plants didn't move in the glaciated regions. They were moved. Humans, land animals, birds, and weather such as flooding move bacteria, plants, animals, and yes even worms and their cocoons. It didn't just start with the Europeans.
5) bpgreen said the trees evolved without the worms. No study makes such a claim. Most the trees we know today didn't evolve to the point they are at just since the last glacial period. And even these inaccurate studies claim that earthworms were around prior to the galciers and were forced south.
The changes that are occurring because of invasive worms is largely due to the changes man is making with industrialization, deforestation, and the multitude of other ways. Leaving out the pertinent variables and contributors is misleading at the least. My opinion: some people must come up with new findings to keep their jobs or advance their careers and repeating the same old mantra of "man is damaging the planet" doesn't cut it unless your name is Al Gore.
Some of you may read this and think I am saying we are like a virus and man is bad. No. I believe man is as much part of the natural process as a tree or a worm and we are just part of the evolving planet. Arrogance leads us to think otherwise, I feel.
So, why put this in the soil forum? Because I think plenty of evidence supports that the earthworm truly is an amazing creature that will improve your soil in the lawn or garden (even if you have trees) and reading claims that seem to make sense without considering why so many real variables are not considered can lead one to think otherwise.
joepyeweed
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