Global distribution of earthworm diversity.
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| Title: | Global distribution of earthworm diversity. |
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| Authors: | Phillips, Helen R. P., Guerra, Carlos A., Bartz, Marie L. C., Briones, Maria J. I., Brown, George, Crowther, Thomas W., Ferlian, Olga, Gongalsky, Konstantin B., van den Hoogen, Johan, Krebs, Julia, Orgiazzi, Alberto, Routh, Devin, Schwarz, Benjamin, Bach, Elizabeth M., Bennett, Joanne, Brose, Ulrich, Decaëns, Thibaud, König-Ries, Birgitta, Loreau, Michel, Mathieu, Jérôme |
| Source: | Science (pre-March 2025). 10/25/2019, Vol. 366 Issue 6464, p480-485. 6p. 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. |
| Subjects: | Earthworms, Ecosystems, Plant growth, Plant species, Soil biodiversity |
| Abstract: | Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Science (pre-March 2025) is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00368075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.aax4851 |
