EARTHWORMS (LUMBRICIDAE AND SPARGANOPHILIDAE) OF THE GRAND LAKE PROTECTED NATURAL AREA, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

Ten species in six genera of lumbricid earthworms are recorded from the Grand Lake Protected Natural Area (GL PNA), New Brunswick, Canada, the results of survey. Eight of the species are considered European introductions. Aporrectodea tuberculata and Lumbricus rubellus are the most widespread species across the 10,697 ha PNA, including in seasonally flooded woodlands. Most significantly, sampling within floodplain forests showed non-native earthworms, including Aporrectodea rosea, Aporrectodea tuberculata, Aporrectodea turgida, Lumbrucus castaneus, Lumbricus rubellus, and Octolasion tyrtaeum, had penetrated mature forest stands within the PNA. Native Bimastos rubidus was encountered infrequently. River shoreline throughout the PNA supports often dense populations of native Sparganophilus tamesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]