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The invasion of north temperate forests by exotic species of earthworms is an important issue that has been overlooked in the study and management of these forests. We initiated research to address the hypothesis that earthworm invasion will have large consequences for nutrient retention and uptake in these ecosystems. In this special feature of Ecosystems, we present five papers describing results from our experiment. In this paper, we (a) introduce our experimental approach and conceptual model of how earthworms influence forest ecosystem processes, (b) describe the characteristics of the study areas and earthworm communities at our two study locations, and (c) provide a brief overview and synthesis of the main findings. The most dramatic effect of earthworm invasion was the loss of the forest floor at an undisturbed forest site, which altered the location and nature of nutrient cycling activity in the soil profile. Invasion changed soil total carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) pools, carbon—nitrogen (C:N) ratios, the loss and distribution of different soil P fractions, and the distribution and function of roots and microbes. Response to invasion varied with site characteristics and earthworm species. Our results suggest that exotic earthworm invasion is a significant factor that will influence the structure and function of northern temperate forest ecosystems over the next few decades. Regional evaluations of these forests will need to consider the presence or absence of earthworms along with other important ecosystem drivers, such as pollution, climate, and underlying soil characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efflux of carbon from soils is a critical link between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Current concerns about rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations highlight the need to better understand the dynamics of total soil respiration (TSR, sum of root and heterotroph respiration) in changing environments. We investigated the effects of exotic earthworm invasion on TSR, fine-root distributions, and aboveground litterfall flux in two sugar maple-dominated forests in two locations in New York State, USA. The Arnot Forest in central New York was harvested in the late 19th century and has no history of cultivation. Tompkins Farm in eastern New York regenerated following abandonment from cultivation approximately 75 years ago. Arnot had 20% higher total soil CO2 efflux (880 g C m-2year-1) than Tompkins (715 g C m-2year-1). The presence of earthworms had no influence on TSR at either location. However, fineroot (< 1 mm diameter) biomass in earthworm plots (350 g/m²) was significantly lower than in worm-free reference plots (440 g/m²) at Arnot. Fine-root nitrogen (N) concentrations were not influenced by earthworms, and total fine-root N content was significantly reduced in the presence of earthworms at Arnot. Our results indicate that the presence of exotic earthworms is not presently affecting net C emission from soil in these forests. They also suggest a change in root function in earthworm plots that is not associated with higher fine-root N concentration, but that increases efficiency of nutrient uptake and also may enhance the belowground supply of C for heterotroph metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus (P) in northern hardwood forest plots invaded by exotic earthworms versus adjacent uninvaded reference plots. In three of the six pairs of plots, earthworm invasion resulted in significantly more total P in the upper 12 cm of soil. The finding of increased amounts of unavailable and occluded inorganic P forms in the invaded plots suggests that earthworm activity mobilized unweathered soil particles from deeper layers of the soil, increasing the stocks of total P in surface soils. In two pairs of plots, the earthworm-invaded soils had less total P than the reference soils. In these plots, earthworm activity resulted in augmented rates of P cycling and alteration of the physical structure of the soil that increased loss of P in leaching water, reducing the total amount of P. We hypothesize that the different effects of earthworm invasion on the soil P cycle result from unique characteristics of the ecological groups of earthworms dominating each site. The invaded plots with increased total P were dominated by the anecic species Lumbricus terrestris, a large earthworm that constructs deep, vertical burrows and is effective at moving soil materials from and to deeper layers of the profile. In contrast, the earthworm-invaded plots where the total P in the surface soil decreased were dominated by the epiendogeic species L. rubellus, which feeds and lives in the upper organic layers of the soil. In these plots, earthworms significantly increased the amount of readily exchangeable P in the soil, increasing the loss of this element in leaching water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]