There have been no landscape-scale studies on earthworm populations in Canada comparing
vegetation types; previous studies on edge habitats have been conducted in agricultural systems.
I examined the spatial variations of earthworm populations by measuring abundance based on
regional municipality, vegetation type, and edge habitat. Earthworms were sampled throughout
the season across a gradient of vegetation types including meadow, forest edge, and interior at a
local-scale; and at the landscape level with vegetation types including meadow, deciduous
forest, pine plantation and mixed forest. Regional effects were more significant than vegetation
type likely due to a gradient of soil characteristics in southern Ontario; edges had intermediate
earthworm abundance and a higher proportion of epigeic species. My research provides insight
into the patterns of earthworm populations in southern Ontario and the possible effects of edge
creation through landscape fragmentation. Field sampling of earthworm parasitoid cluster-flies
(Calliphoridae: Pollenia) using synomones was also discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/33382 |
| Date | 21 November 2012 |
| Creators | Choi, Amy |
| Contributors | Smith, Sandy |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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