Abstract

For decades, scientists have known where the highest numbers of species that live aboveground are found. So, they made maps of the world showing these patterns. For most of the aboveground groups, the highest numbers of species occur in the tropics and numbers decrease toward the poles. However, until recently, we did not understand such global patterns for many organisms living in the soil. We decided to create global maps of earthworm species richness. Earthworms provide humans with many useful services, such as moving the soils and improving their quality, which can increase the amount of food that is grown. If we want to protect earthworms and the services they provide, these global maps of earthworms are important because we need to understand where they are and why they live there.

Highlights

  • Scientists have known where the highest numbers of species that live aboveground are found

  • Maybe we are interested in knowing what the general pattern of animal and plant populations are, and whether that pattern is consistent across lots of di erent species

  • Earthworm data consists of the numbers of earthworm species, collected using surveys

Read more

Summary

EARTHWORMS OF THE WORLD

Scientists have known where the highest numbers of species that live aboveground are found. They made maps of the world showing these patterns. Until recently, we did not understand such global patterns for many organisms living in the soil. We decided to create global maps of earthworm species richness. Earthworms provide humans with many useful services, such as moving the soils and improving their quality, which can increase the amount of food that is grown. If we want to protect earthworms and the services they provide, these global maps of earthworms are important because we need to understand where they are and why they live there

Earthworms of the World
WHAT DID WE DO TO UNDERSTAND GLOBAL PATTERNS OF
WHAT WE FOUND OUT ABOUT EARTHWORMS
EARTHWORM MODELS CAN BROADEN CONSERVATION EFFORTS
YOUNG REVIEWERS

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.