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California
Related: About this forumThe lowly earthworm poses a dire threat to this California island (LA Times)
San Clemente Island has been invaded by foreign intruders, threatening inhabitants of the volcanic isle owned by the Navy.
The island is home to the only ship-to-shore bombardment training range in the United States, but this invasion isnt part of a military exercise. The intruders are thousands of lowly earthworms.
While they may seem harmless, scientists say, the worms pose a mortal threat to the native species clinging to life on the island about 75 miles northwest of San Diego.
--- Snip ---
The invasion of earthworms in this earthworm-free region is a major concern. The worms alter the soil and microbial communities where they dwell, laying the groundwork for invasions of nonnative plants that would alter the islands unique ecosystem and threaten biodiversity there, said Travis Longcore, a spatial scientist at USC.
--- Snip ---
The island is home to the only ship-to-shore bombardment training range in the United States, but this invasion isnt part of a military exercise. The intruders are thousands of lowly earthworms.
While they may seem harmless, scientists say, the worms pose a mortal threat to the native species clinging to life on the island about 75 miles northwest of San Diego.
--- Snip ---
The invasion of earthworms in this earthworm-free region is a major concern. The worms alter the soil and microbial communities where they dwell, laying the groundwork for invasions of nonnative plants that would alter the islands unique ecosystem and threaten biodiversity there, said Travis Longcore, a spatial scientist at USC.
--- Snip ---
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-earthworms-san-clemente-island-20161007-snap-story.html
Another one of those seemingly-inconsequential human disruptions that I never would have imagined...
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The lowly earthworm poses a dire threat to this California island (LA Times) (Original Post)
petronius
Oct 2016
OP
The Hawaiian island of Kaho'olawe off Maui was used for that purpose for decades
KamaAina
Oct 2016
#2
Speculation earthworms were introduced when topsoil was brought from the mainland to...
Brother Buzz
Oct 2016
#3
SunSeeker
(53,398 posts)1. Who knew worms would be more disruptive than the shelling?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)2. The Hawaiian island of Kaho'olawe off Maui was used for that purpose for decades
the name Kaho'olawe means "that which was taken away". And that was its name for centuries before the Navy arrived.
Brother Buzz
(37,481 posts)3. Speculation earthworms were introduced when topsoil was brought from the mainland to...
pave the road.
Topsoil? Topsoil is used in road building? And exotic imported topsoil, as opposed to the crappy topsoil found locally. I wonder if the contractors, hamstrung with environmental restrictions, were prohibited from developing local quarries.