Summary
In this paper a simple model is used to study the dispersal of earthworm populations into new habitats. Simple models do not describe processes accurately, but can help gain insight into the functioning of ecosystems or processes in ecosystems. Using information on reproduction, survival and dispersal at the level of the individual, the velocity of earthworm population expansion was calculated. Dispersal of earthworms can be active or passive. The parameters of active and passive dispersal were calculated from field experiments in one of the Dutch polders. Parameters of reproduction and survival were estimated from published data. The effects of processes at the individual level on the velocity of population expansion were studied for two species (Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus). The model shows that passive transport has a major influence on the velocity of population expansion, which is strongly increased even if this transport involves only a very small part of the population. At a high level of passive transport, however, death induced by this mode of dispersal can have a negative influence on population expansion. In the discussion it is indicated that optimising growth conditions of the earthworms might be the easiest way to promote population expansion. However, promoting dispersal by passive mechanisms can also be very important.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atlavinyté O, Payarskaite AI (1962) The effect of erosion on earthworms during the growing season. Zool Zh 41:1631–1636
Bengtson SA, Nilsson A, Nordström S, Rundgren S (1979) Shortterm colonization success of lumbricid founder populations. Oikos 33:308–315
Benham WB (1905) Barthworms from the Kermadecs Trans N Z Inst Eng 37:299–300
Benham WB (1915) Oligochaeta from the Kermadecs. Trans N Z Inst Eng 47:174–185
Boström U (1988) Ecology of earthworms in arable land (Dissertation). Rapport 34, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Uppsala
Bouché MB (1976) Etude de l'activité des invertébrés épigés prairiaux. I. Résultats généraux et géodrilogiques. Rev Ecol Biol Sol 13:261–281
Brun JJ, Cluzeau D, Trehen P, Bouché MB (1987) Biostimulation: prospects and limitations of the biological improvements of soils by stimulation or introduction of earthworms. Rev Ecol Biol Sol 24:685–701
Cotton DCF and Curry JP (1980) The effects of cattle and pig slurry fertilizers on earthworms in grassland managed for silage production. Pedobiologia 20:181–186
Curry JP, Boyle KE (1987) Growth rates, establishment, and effects on herbage yield of introduced earthworms in grassland on reclaimed cutover peat. Biol Fertil Soils 3:95–98
Diekmann O (1978) Thresholds and travelling waves for the geographical spread of infection. J Math Biol 6:109–130
Diekmann O (1979) Run for your life. A note on the asymptotic speed of propagation of an epidemic. J Diff Equa 33:58–73
Evans AC, Guild WJ McL (1948) Studies on the relationships between earthworms and soil fertility IV. On the life cycles of some british Lumbricidae. Ann Appl Biol 79:95–108
Frenot Y (in press) Earthworm biogeography in the subantarctic islands: a synthesis and new facts. Wilhelm Michaelsen symposium on terrestrial Oligochaeta, Hamburg, September 1987
Hamblyn CJ, Dingwall AR (1945) Earthworms. N Z J Agric Res 71:55–58
Hoogerkamp M, Rogaar H, Eijsackers HJP (1983) Effect of earthworms on grassland on recently reclaimed polder soils in The Netherlands. In: JE Satchell (ed). Earthworm Ecology, Chapman and Hall, London, pp 85–105
Lee KE (1953) A note on the earthworm fauna of the Kermadec Islands. Trans R Soc N Z 81:49–51
Lee KE (1985) Earthworms, their ecology and relationships with soils and land use. Academic Press, Sydney
Levins R (1966) The strategy of model building in population biology. Am Sci 54(4):421–431
Lofs-Holmin A (1979) A pot method for field experiments with earthworms. Rapport 6, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Uppsala
MacArthur RH, Wilson EO (1967) The theory of island biogeography. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Marinissen JCY (1991) Colonization of arable fields by earthworms in a newly reclaimed polder in the Netherlands. In: GK Veeresh, D Rajagopal, CA Viraktamath (eds): Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi, pp 341–348
Marinissen JCY (in press) Population dynamics of earthworms in a sandy clay loam cultivated as “conventional” or “integrated” during two years with different weather patterns. Soil Biol Biochem
Martin NA (1982) The interaction between organic matter in soil and the burrowing activity of three species of earthworms. Pedobiologia 24:185–190
Mather JG, Christensen O (1988) Surface movements of earthworms in agricultural land. Pedobiologia 32:399–405
Meijer J (1972) An isolated earthworm population in the recently reclaimed Lauwerszeepolder. Pedobiologia 12:409–411
Rhee JA van (1963) Earthworm activities and the breakdown of organic matter in agricultural soils. In: J Docksen, J van der Drift (eds): Soil organisms. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, pp 55–59
Rhee JA van (1969) Development of earthworm populations in polder soils. Pedobiologia 9:133–140
Roughgarden J (1979) Theory of population genetics and evolutionary ecology: an introduction. MacMillan, New York
Scheffer M (1989) Alternative stable states in eutrophic shallow freshwater ecosystems, a minimal model. Hydrobiol Bull 23:73–83
Scheffer M (1990) Multiplicity of stable states in freshwater systems. Hydrobiologia 200/201:475–486
Scheffer M (1991) Fish and nutrients interplay determines algal biomass, a minimal model. Oikos 62:271–282
Schwert DP (1980) Active and passive dispersal of earthworms. In: DL Dindal (ed): Soil Biology as related to Land Use Practices, EPA, Washington D.C., pp 182–189
Schwert DP, Dance KW (1979) Earthworm cocoons as a drift component in a southern Ontario stream. Can Field-Nat 93:180–183
Skellam JG (1951) Random dispersal in theoretical populations. Biometrika 38:196–218
Steel RGD, Torrie JH (1980) Principles and procedures of statistics. 2nd edn., McGraw-Hill Kogakusha, Tokyo, pp 35–37
Thieme HR (1977) The asymptotic behaviour of solutions of nonlinear integral equations. Math Z 157:141–154
Thieme HR (1979) Asymptotic estimates of the solutions of nonlinear integral equations and asymptotic speeds for the spread of populations. Z Rein Angew Math 306:94–121
Van den Bosch F, Metz JAJ, Diekmann O (1990) The velocity of spatial population expansion. J Math Biol 28:529–565
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communication no. 36 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marinissen, J.C.Y., van den Bosch, F. Colonization of new habitats by earthworms. Oecologia 91, 371–376 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317626
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317626