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- Title
First reports of invasive pheretimoid earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) of Asian origin in Atlantic Canada.
- Authors
McAlpine, Donald F.; Reynolds, John W.; Manzer, Lawrence R.; Elton, Kristin
- Abstract
First reports of pheretimoid earthworms in Atlantic Canada, from a suburban site in south-central New Brunswick, are documented. Pheretimoids were present at high densities under hardwood cover, estimated at several hundred per m² in the small area sampled. Preliminary samples collected at the site in October 2021 suggest that Metaphire hilgendorfi, followed closely by Amynthas tokioensis, were dominant, while A. minimus was rare. The latter is the first report of A. minimus from Canada. Associated lumbricids, present in much smaller numbers and in descending order of abundance, included Lumbricus rubellus, Dendrobaena octaedra, and Aporrectodea tuberculata. We suggest that pheretimoid earthworms are probably more widespread in the Atlantic Canadian region than this first report would indicate. Further survey, supported by public education and reporting, will be required to assess the full ecological impact of invasive Asian pheretimoids in eastern Canada.
- Subjects
NEW Brunswick; EARTHWORMS; MEGASCOLECIDAE; OLIGOCHAETA; ECOLOGICAL impact; PUBLIC education
- Publication
BioInvasions Record, 2022, Vol 11, Issue 4, p830
- ISSN
2242-1300
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3391/bir.2022.11.4.02