Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms
ABSTRACT We examined efficacy of a mustard extraction technique for quantifying earthworm occupancy and density using a mesocosm experiment. In May 2017, we placed 12 earthworms from 2 ecological groups (6 surface dwelling [epigeic] and 6 deep dwelling [anecic]) into mesocosms (0.144 m2 surface area...
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Wiley
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1033 |
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| author | Melissa D. Starking Gary J. Roloff |
| author_facet | Melissa D. Starking Gary J. Roloff |
| author_sort | Melissa D. Starking |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT We examined efficacy of a mustard extraction technique for quantifying earthworm occupancy and density using a mesocosm experiment. In May 2017, we placed 12 earthworms from 2 ecological groups (6 surface dwelling [epigeic] and 6 deep dwelling [anecic]) into mesocosms (0.144 m2 surface area) constructed from soils typically found in northern hardwood forests of Michigan, USA. We evaluated 2 soil depths (15 and 30 cm) and a soil moisture gradient (dry to wet). We found occupancy of epigeic earthworms was accurately portrayed 92% of the time through leaf searches, and subsequent mustard phase did not improve accuracy. For anecic earthworms, we found that occupancy was accurately portrayed 50% of the time through leaf searches and mustard phase increased accuracy to 92%. We found that mustard extraction produced 0–83% (median = 50%) of epigeic earthworms available for capture, with most recovered through leaf searches (median = 42%). We found that mustard extraction produced 0–67% (median = 33%) of anecic earthworms available for capture, with most (median = 20%) recovered during the mustard phase. Our results lend support for using mustard extraction as a technique for quantifying occupancy of epigeic and anecic earthworms, but caution that density estimates are likely low. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6cc394a4baf947af8afc64baa97bc2a0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-6cc394a4baf947af8afc64baa97bc2a02024-12-17T08:57:21ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402019-12-0143476076510.1002/wsb.1033Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthwormsMelissa D. Starking0Gary J. Roloff1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, Room 13, Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USADepartment of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, Room 13, Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USAABSTRACT We examined efficacy of a mustard extraction technique for quantifying earthworm occupancy and density using a mesocosm experiment. In May 2017, we placed 12 earthworms from 2 ecological groups (6 surface dwelling [epigeic] and 6 deep dwelling [anecic]) into mesocosms (0.144 m2 surface area) constructed from soils typically found in northern hardwood forests of Michigan, USA. We evaluated 2 soil depths (15 and 30 cm) and a soil moisture gradient (dry to wet). We found occupancy of epigeic earthworms was accurately portrayed 92% of the time through leaf searches, and subsequent mustard phase did not improve accuracy. For anecic earthworms, we found that occupancy was accurately portrayed 50% of the time through leaf searches and mustard phase increased accuracy to 92%. We found that mustard extraction produced 0–83% (median = 50%) of epigeic earthworms available for capture, with most recovered through leaf searches (median = 42%). We found that mustard extraction produced 0–67% (median = 33%) of anecic earthworms available for capture, with most (median = 20%) recovered during the mustard phase. Our results lend support for using mustard extraction as a technique for quantifying occupancy of epigeic and anecic earthworms, but caution that density estimates are likely low. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1033earthwormsMichiganmustard extractionnorthern hardwoods |
| spellingShingle | Melissa D. Starking Gary J. Roloff Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms Wildlife Society Bulletin earthworms Michigan mustard extraction northern hardwoods |
| title | Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| title_full | Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| title_short | Evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| title_sort | evaluating a mustard extraction technique for sampling earthworms |
| topic | earthworms Michigan mustard extraction northern hardwoods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1033 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT melissadstarking evaluatingamustardextractiontechniqueforsamplingearthworms AT garyjroloff evaluatingamustardextractiontechniqueforsamplingearthworms |