Invasive Species Assessment in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness : Earthworms

Abstract

Invasive species are known to be major contributors to extinction events and alter ecological systems. Earthworms initially invaded North America via European colonists. Worms are major drivers of ecological change and are considered ecological engineers. There has been no quantification of earthworm abundance, community composition, or ecological impacts for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether species composition and biomass of earthworm populations change with increasing distance from campsites, which are hypothetically epicenters of earthworm invasion.