Yes, there are and were native species of earthworms south of glacial extent. These have also been hit by disturbance, as invasives seem to do better with disturbance. The forests in the north that are hit particularly hard by earthworms are nothern mesic hardwoods, namely sugar maple dominated stands. Plants that evolved to live with the litter layer disappear completely as their forest alters.
Earthworms, Planarians
Date: 2008-05-25 06:37 pm (UTC)