Invasive Earthworms in our Gardens by Prof. Josef Görres
Date: Saturday, February 25, 2017
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier, VT
We tend to think of earthworms as positive, helpful creatures which build soil, improve fertility, improve aeration, store water and help their ecosystems. This is true for many of the 4,400 species of earthworms that have been identified worldwide, and the 19 species which live in Vermont, but is decidedly NOT true about an Asian species known as crazy snake worm, Amynthas agrestis. The common name describes the snake-like side-to-side wiggle that they normally use to move, and the ‘crazy’ part refers to their gyrating antics when touched or disturbed. Josef Görres will speak about these alien earthworms which are rapidly spreading throughout Vermont (especially the Chittenden Co. and Upper Valley areas) and which negatively affect our forests and some garden plantings.
Josef has a Ph.D. in physics and worked with the paper industry before he got an additional MS in Natural Resources Science and began teaching soil science, which he now does at UVM. Studying soil profiles lead to an interest in alien earthworms which are negatively impacting forest soils and hence the plants, fungi and animals which grow in Vermont forests. Josef is conducting cutting edge research which he will report on.
Sponsored by the Hardy Plant Club of Northern Vermont.
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