Published July 10, 2018 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) of Interior Alaska

  • 1. West Valley High School, Fairbanks, United States of America
  • 2. University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, United States of America
  • 3. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, United States of America
  • 4. Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, United States of America

Description

Earthworms in the family Lumbricidae in Alaska, which are known from coastal regions, primarily in south-central and south-eastern Alaska, are thought to be entirely non-native and have been shown to negatively impact previously earthworm-free ecosystems in study regions outside of Alaska. Despite occasional collections by curious citizens, there had not been a standardised earthworm survey performed in Interior Alaska and no published records exist of earthworms species from this region. Mustard extraction was used to sample six locations that differed in elevation, mostly in the College region of Fairbanks, Alaska. Two of the six locations yielded earthworms. There was no relationship between earthworm abundance and elevation (p = 0.087), although our sample size was small. Our sampling, combined with specimens in the University of Alaska Museum, has documented four exotic species and one presumed native species of lumbricid earthworms in Interior Alaska.

Files

BDJ_article_27427.pdf

Files (474.4 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:dc4b6e2da2307ff996c3a0f291e68102
372.4 kB Preview Download
md5:2aef88028070e71a9544202261b3a20f
102.0 kB Preview Download

Linked records