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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Published on: November 10, 2023

Invasive earthworms erode soil biodiversity: A meta-analysis.

Olga Ferlian^1,2, Nico Eisenhauer^1,2, Martin Aguirrebengoa³

¹German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

The Journal of Animal Ecology

|August 24, 2017

Summary

Invasive earthworms significantly reduce soil invertebrate diversity and density. Microbial communities are impacted differently based on soil layer and invasive species, potentially altering ecosystem functions.

Keywords:

biodiversity change biological invasion ecosystem engineer soil invertebrates soil micro-organisms

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Science
Soil Biology

Background:

Biological invasions threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Ecosystem engineers, like earthworms, can drastically alter recipient environments.
Earthworm invasions in previously earthworm-free ecosystems change soil properties, impacting soil organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively synthesize the effects of earthworm invasion on soil micro-organisms and invertebrates.
To assess the impact of invasive earthworms on below-ground biodiversity.
To understand how earthworm invasions alter soil microbial communities and functions.

Main Methods:

A meta-analysis of 430 observations from 30 independent studies.
Quantitative synthesis of earthworm invasion effects.
Analysis of impacts on soil micro-organisms and soil invertebrates.

Main Results:

Significant decline in soil invertebrate diversity and density due to earthworm invasion.
Anecic and endogeic earthworms caused the most substantial negative effects.
Earthworm invasion effects on soil micro-organisms were context-dependent, influencing microbial biomass and diversity based on soil depth and invasive species characteristics.

Conclusions:

Earthworm invasion negatively impacts below-ground biodiversity in recipient ecosystems.
Bioturbation by earthworms may homogenize microbial communities across soil layers.
Invasive earthworms can alter ecosystem functions and services linked to soil biota.