Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity?
The introduction of invasive earthworms initiates physical and chemical alterations in previously earthworm-free forest soils, which triggers an ecological cascade. The most apparent step is the shift in the herbaceous plant community composition. However, some species, such as <i>Arisaema tri...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/11 |
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| author | Ryan D. S. Melnichuk Hüseyin Barış Tecimen Josef H. Görres |
| author_facet | Ryan D. S. Melnichuk Hüseyin Barış Tecimen Josef H. Görres |
| author_sort | Ryan D. S. Melnichuk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The introduction of invasive earthworms initiates physical and chemical alterations in previously earthworm-free forest soils, which triggers an ecological cascade. The most apparent step is the shift in the herbaceous plant community composition. However, some species, such as <i>Arisaema triphyllum</i> (jack-in-the-pulpit), persist where earthworms are present. It has been hypothesized that <i>A. triphyllum</i> produces insoluble oxalate, an herbivory deterrent, in the presence of earthworms. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of earthworm-induced changes in soils and the physical presence of earthworms on oxalate production. As such, a two-way factorial greenhouse trial was conducted using uninvaded soils to test this hypothesis for two invasive earthworm species (<i>Amynthas agrestis</i> and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i>). The sequential extraction of oxalates in <i>A. triphyllum</i> corms was performed with absolute ethanol, deionized water, acetic acid and HCl, representing fractions of decreasing solubility. Earthworm presence increased water-soluble (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and total oxalate (<i>p</i> = 0.022) significantly, but only marginally significantly for HCl-soluble oxalate (<i>p</i> = 0.065). The corms of plants grown in soils previously exposed to the two species did not differ in oxalate production when earthworms were not present. However, the data suggest that earthworms affect corm oxalate concentrations and that the sequence of invasion matters for oxalate production by <i>A. triphyllum.</i> |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:36:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-2d292c1d28874abe808e6889f6e177ba2023-11-30T22:23:14ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892022-01-01611110.3390/soilsystems6010011Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity?Ryan D. S. Melnichuk0Hüseyin Barış Tecimen1Josef H. Görres2Innotech Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6N 1E4, CanadaSoil Science and Ecology Department, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34473 Istanbul, TurkeyDepartment of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USAThe introduction of invasive earthworms initiates physical and chemical alterations in previously earthworm-free forest soils, which triggers an ecological cascade. The most apparent step is the shift in the herbaceous plant community composition. However, some species, such as <i>Arisaema triphyllum</i> (jack-in-the-pulpit), persist where earthworms are present. It has been hypothesized that <i>A. triphyllum</i> produces insoluble oxalate, an herbivory deterrent, in the presence of earthworms. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of earthworm-induced changes in soils and the physical presence of earthworms on oxalate production. As such, a two-way factorial greenhouse trial was conducted using uninvaded soils to test this hypothesis for two invasive earthworm species (<i>Amynthas agrestis</i> and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i>). The sequential extraction of oxalates in <i>A. triphyllum</i> corms was performed with absolute ethanol, deionized water, acetic acid and HCl, representing fractions of decreasing solubility. Earthworm presence increased water-soluble (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and total oxalate (<i>p</i> = 0.022) significantly, but only marginally significantly for HCl-soluble oxalate (<i>p</i> = 0.065). The corms of plants grown in soils previously exposed to the two species did not differ in oxalate production when earthworms were not present. However, the data suggest that earthworms affect corm oxalate concentrations and that the sequence of invasion matters for oxalate production by <i>A. triphyllum.</i>https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/11soil propertiesforest soil modificationsoxalate<i>A. triphyllum</i>earthworm invasionscalcifery |
| spellingShingle | Ryan D. S. Melnichuk Hüseyin Barış Tecimen Josef H. Görres Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? Soil Systems soil properties forest soil modifications oxalate <i>A. triphyllum</i> earthworm invasions calcifery |
| title | Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? |
| title_full | Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? |
| title_fullStr | Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? |
| title_short | Do the Invasive Earthworms <i>Amynthas agrestis</i> (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) and <i>Lumbricus rubellus</i> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) Stimulate Oxalate-Based Browser Defenses in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (<i>Arisaema triphyllum)</i> by Their Presence or Their Soil Biogeochemical Activity? |
| title_sort | do the invasive earthworms i amynthas agrestis i oligochaeta megascolecidae and i lumbricus rubellus i oligochaeta lumbricidae stimulate oxalate based browser defenses in jack in the pulpit i arisaema triphyllum i by their presence or their soil biogeochemical activity |
| topic | soil properties forest soil modifications oxalate <i>A. triphyllum</i> earthworm invasions calcifery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/11 |
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