These non-native, highly invasive earthworms live in shallow layers of organic soil and mulch, where they quickly digest organic matter and replace it with their castings (worm poop), in which all nutrients are bound up and made unavailable to plants. This new top layer is said to look like large coffee grounds. With nutrients no longer available, seed germination or plant development is greatly impaired. In the long term, this creates an environment that is more vulnerable to invasive plant establishment and reduced native plant vigor. Presentation by Bob Bruner for Marion County Purdue Extention.
6 сен 2024