ESB Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 2

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

In This Issue

News

page 2

Earthworm Survival Tactics

in Flooding

and

Recent Publications

Recording

page 5

ESB Field Meeting 2014

Events

page 8

Events Coming up in 2015

Species of the season

page 10

The morphs of

Allolobophora chlorotica

Curiosity Page

page 11

The Truth About Velvet

Worms

Slime Time

page 12

Puzzle of the Season

Dear members,

We have had a busy year at the Earthworm Society. Last

year’s wet winter prompted lots of questions about how

earthworms survive in flood conditions - we have now got

an answer to your questions in ‘Earthworm Survival

Tactics in Flooding’, on page 2.

We have also held our first three field meeting weekends.

All were a great success! There is more information about

the field meetings on page 5. Our Kent field meeting

report will be published shortly. You can find our other

field meeting reports on the ESB website.

We have updated our website so there is more information

about sampling and recording; including the forms you

will need if you want to collect your own records. We are

adding more pages soon, so keep your eyes peeled at

www.earthwormsoc.org.uk.

Remember we still have our Facebook page which we

update regularly - https://www.facebook.com/

earthwormsoc

We are currently planning events for 2015 and will be

sending out information shortly!

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New

Year.

Best Wishes

Rachel

ESB Newsletter Editor

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News

Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Hot Earthworm Topic

Last winter saw record breaking

rainfall, particularly around the

Somerset Levels in South West

England. The flood waters covered

over 17,000 acres and this land was

underwater for over a month. The

floods caused devastation to homes,

agriculture, businesses and wildlife.

During this period we got many

enquiries about the impact flooding

had on earthworms.

Little research has been done on the

impact of flooding on earthworms in

the UK. Eiseniella tetraedra, thrives in semi-aquatic environments such as floodplains,

whilst other species have adapted to survive an increase in water levels through physical or

behavioural methods. Many species migrate (behavioural adaptation) to drier, less

waterlogged environments if they have the chance. Other species such as Allolobophora

chlorotica, Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus have adapted physically to

survive within waterlogged conditions.

Freshwater v Seawater

Coastal flooding, which is caused by saline

water (sea water), has a negative effect on

earthworm populations. Earthworms tend

not to thrive in coastal areas influenced

heavily by the sea. This is due to the high

salt levels, which lower the microbial

populations (such as bacteria, fungi and

viruses). In turn this reduces the oxygen

levels in the soil which are essential for the

survival of earthworms.

Flooding with freshwater found in rivers and

streams provides a better environment for

earthworms as the microbial population is

Earthworm Survival Tactics in Flooding

How can earthworms survive many feet under water?

The Somerset Levels saw some of the worst flooding on

record in the UK last winter. (Press Association image)

Sampling for earthworms around a lake can

produce some interesting earthworm finds, such

as Eiseniella tetraedra. (V. Gilson photograph)

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

News Hot Earthworm Topic

not destroyed. The flooding also deposits organic matter which is high in nutrients and

remains after the flood waters subside. There are some species such as Eiseniella tetraedra

and Allolobophora chlorotica (the green morph) that are found in waterlogged soils, such as

river banks.

Earthworm species are broadly split into 4 ecotype groups, using physiological and

behavioural characteristics. Different ecotype groups seem to

be able to tolerate flooding differently.

Anecic Earthworms

Anecic earthworms such as Apporectodea longa and

Lumbricus terrestris appear to be the least tolerant to

flooding, this is likely to be due to the interference that the

water has on the earthworms deep vertical burrows.

Endogeic Earthworms

Endogeic earthworms such as Allolobophora chlorotica and

Apporectodea rosea make horizontal burrows near the

surface of the soil. They tend to do better in environments

which have short term flooding, such as river banks and

edges of marshes. In cases of longer term flooding (soil

submerged for 2 months or more) endogeic species usually do

not survive. This could be due to the issues in burrowing;

similar to that of anecic earthworms. Though more studies

need to be done to confirm this.

In 1945 an Allolobophora chlorotica specimen was,

surprisingly found in sediment below Lake Windermere. The

species is known to breed in moist conditions however is

rarely found in permanently waterlogged soils.

Epigeic Earthworms

Epigeic earthworms such as Eiseniella tetraedra, Octolasion

lacteum and Lumbricus rubellus tend overall to be the most

successful earthworm group in flooded environments. This is

because they live on the surface of the soil, mainly in leaf

litter and do not make deep burrows.

Above: Apporectodea longa is an

anecic earthworm these species

burrow deep in to the soil and do

not do well in flood waters.

Above: Allolobophora chlorotica is

an endogeic earthworm.

Above: Lumbricus castaneus is an

epigeic earthworm, these species

are the most successful

earthworms in flooded areas and

actively live in very moist soils

(Images: NHM and FSC 2012)

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It has been suggested that some species; such as Lumbricus rubellus; have adapted to

flooding through ensuring that the population can recover afterwards. This adaptation

appears to be early maturation of the species at a lower weight in floodplain areas, which in

turn allows L. rubellus to produce more cocoons. This is important because cocoons are

resistant to flooding and will hatch after the flooding has subsided allowing the population to

recover quickly. In studies into Eiseniella tetraedra there is a higher than average use of

cloning (asexual reproduction) to ensure the success of their species after flooding due to lack

of mates. Their cocoons like L. rubellus are resistant to water but also sink quickly in to the

soil.

E. tetraedra and O. lacteum survive well in water due to their ability to move their tails

upwards in the water to maintain gas exchange. This is in part done through increasing the

speed of osmoregulation (regulation of water within the body) to ensure their bodies do not

become over hydrated and die from water exposure.

Earthworms do not do well in heavily polluted flood waters. Heavy metal pollutants (such as

mercury and lead) appear to be one of the biggest problems in contaminated flood waters as

they are toxic and absorbed into the body. Therefore flooding in areas with a high

manufacturing history tends to have a lower population of earthworms than areas with more

rural or agricultural pasts.

Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

News Hot Earthworm Topic

Recent Publications

Written by Rachel Julie Clark

In April 2014 Natural England published a report about the

distribution, abundance and habitats of the Earthworms in

England. Their report was carried out by the Soil Biodiversity

Group at the Natural History Museum, London. The research

highlights the need for more sampling of earthworms across the

UK, to establish the conservation status of earthworms

particularly the ‘rarer’ species, such as Lumbricus friendi, and

Aporrectodea limicola.

You can download this publication at:

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5174957155811328

Written by Rachel Julie Clark

Further Reading:

Zorn, M. et al. (2008) ‘Flooding responses of three earthworm species, Allolobophora chlorotica, Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus

rubellus, in a laboratory-controlled environment.’ Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 40, 587-593.

Ivask, M. et al. (2012) ‘Effect of flooding by fresh and brackish water on earthworm communities along Matsalu Bay and the Kasari Riv-

er.’ European Journal of Soil Biology, 53, 11-15.

Zorn, M. et al. (2005) ‘Species-specific earthworm population responses in relation to flooding dynamics in a Dutch floodplain soil’ Pedobi-

ologia, 49, 189-198.

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

ESB Field Meetings 2014

Recording

This year the Earthworm Society of Britain

launched our programme of field meetings. The

primary aim of the field meetings is to get out

into the field and collect earthworm records, but

also we are trying to recruit and train more

recorders who can go out and sample their local

areas and help towards getting more dots on the

distribution maps for earthworms in Britain.

During our field meetings we use ESB standard

sampling methods (see our previous newsletter,

Issue 5 Vol 1, or our website for the protocol) and

also look in some microhabitats such as dead wood, dung, hedgerows and leaf litter.

Most earthworms cannot be identified to species in the field and they need to be viewed

under a microscope to see the diagnostic features. On the second day of our field meetings we

hold an identification course, teaching attendees how to identify earthworms and then

identifying the specimens we collected the previous day.

We are proud to say that all three of our field meetings this year were a success and we are

currently planning 3 more for 2015 field meetings.

We would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended our field meetings and

made them such a success. We hope to see you at future events and look forward to receiving

more records from you.

Bracknell Forest Field Meeting - 22nd and 23rd March 2014

Reported by Kerry Calloway

Our first site; Garth Meadow, a

grassland that is used for pasture,

yielded 51 earthworms of 9 different

species. After our successes in Garth

Meadow we headed to the nearby

Tinkers Copse, a deciduous woodland

and nature reserve, where we found 4

species, 2 of which we hadn’t seen in

Garth Meadow, before continuing

to our last site of the morning.

The sampling team at the Bracknell Forest Field Meeting

Left to right Vicky, Ian, Dan, Rachel, Keith, Kerry, Keiron

and Emma (V. Gilson, photograph)

Rachel, Keiron and Kerry sampling at our first

site on our first field trip (V. Gilson, 2014)

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Recording ESB Field Meetings 2014

Larks Hill is a naturally regenerated grassland where we found

7 species before stopping for lunch.

After a picnic in the orchard we sampled 3 different sites in

Englemere Pond Nature Reserve: heath, woodland and pond

side and found very few earthworms here. This wasn’t

particularly surprising as the soil was very poor for earthworms

and much of the area was Pine forest. Pine trees make the

surrounding soils too acidic for earthworms so you generally

don’t find many living in these habitats. Sampling a site and

finding no earthworms is by no means a waste of time and it is

actually very interesting not to find any. A zero result can still

be added to the distribution map. We finished the day at Popes

Meadow and added a further 6 records.

The second day of the Bracknell Forest Field meeting was the

identification course which was successful, with everyone

greatly improving their identification skills and we managed to

identify most of the specimens collected on the previous day.

Special thanks to Keiron, Rachel and Salma for finishing off the identifications the following

week.

London Field Meeting (Richmond

Park) – 7th and 8th June 2014

Reported by Rachel Clark

We sampled eight sites in Richmond

Park, we had a rainy start to the day

which soon became a gloriously sunny

day. Our first site was acidic

grassland which was home to millions

of Yellow Meadow Ants (Lasius

flavus), each ant hill has between

8,000 to 14,000 individuals. We found

2 earthworms of different species. Our

second site was similar to site one,

acidic grassland, however was a mix

of grass and bracken. 8 earthworms

were found comprising of 3 species.

Emma showing us the art of

ESB sampling at Englemere

Pond (V, Gilson, 2014)

The sampling team at the Richmond Park Field Meeting

Back row L to R - Olivia, Michelle, Matthew, Rachel, Rus-

sell, Renee, Alex. Front row L to R - Kerry, Joanna and

Victoria (K. Brown, 2014)

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Recording ESB Field Meetings 2014

Our third site was neutral grassland, which can be identified due to the clover found in

the grass. 16 earthworms were collected comprising of 4 species. Our fourth site was also a

neutral grassland where we found 3 species. After a lunch break, with a lovely view of the

park, we headed to our fifth site. This was our most successful which was an acid grassland

with a small stream running through it, we collected 7 different species of earthworms from

this one site. We then went into a deciduous woodland, mainly of sweet chestnut and a

understorey of rhododendrons. This made for an interesting site, which was difficult to dig in

due to the roots and dense understorey, however, we

persevered and collected 3 different species. Site 7 was a Fen

on the edge of one of the ponds in the park, this site provided

the most individuals (18 in total), comprising of 3 species. Our

final site was an Orchard near the edge of the park with some

trees that were over 600 years old! Here we found 6

earthworms comprising of 3 species. In total, at Richmond

Park, we collected 15 species, 76 individuals.

Our second day was our identification course at the Natural

History Museum’s Angela Marmot Centre for UK

Biodiversity, we had a packed room and identified three ‘rare’

species; Allolobophoridella eiseni, Aporrectodea icterica and

Lumbricus festivus and one very rare species; Helodrilus

oculatus, however with all four of these species further

investigation is needed in order to verify their true

distribution and abundance in the UK.

We would once again like to say

a big thank you to everyone who

took part and we are currently

finalising the Capstone Farm

Country Park (Kent Field

Meeting) Report.

We will be announcing events in

the New Year, for people who

wish to

attend events in 2015.

Alex identifying earthworms at

the Natural History Museum

(R. Clark, 2014)

Some of our attendees of the Kent Field Meeting. Our report

will be on our website shortly (V. Gilson, 2014)

Written by Rachel Julie Clark and Kerry Calloway

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ESB Preston Montford Field Meeting with the Field Studies Council

When: Sat, 21 March 2015 – Sun, 22 March 2015

Where: FSC Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury,

Shropshire SY4 1DX

Day 1 will be field based and involve sampling a range of sites

and habitats. Experienced recorders will be on hand to provide

training and guidance to anyone new to earthworm recording.

The aim of the day is to introduce the method for sampling for

the National Earthworm Recording Scheme.

Day 2 will involve a lab-based identification course led by ESB

tutors and is suitable for those with no experience or those that

want to identify earthworms. Attendees are welcome to bring

earthworms from their own gardens or other places and we will

happily help with identification.

Upon completion of the course attendees will be added to the list

of recorders for the National Earthworm Recording Scheme. The

course fee is £15 and includes a one year membership to the

Earthworm Society of Britain, a copy of the AIDGAP Earthworm

key, ESB recording guides and sampling tubes.

To book a place, please email the course organiser (Keiron Brown)

at [email protected].

Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Events Events in 2015

Big Nature Day at the Natural History

Museum

When: Sat, 23 May 2015

Where: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road

London SW7 5BD

The Earthworm Society of Britain will be

attending this year's Big Nature Day. Come along

and talk to our earthworm experts about these

fascinating animals. We will have activity sheets

for kids and our Earthworm Compost Survey

for adults. More details will be coming soon.

Kerry digging for earthworms

(V. Gilson, 2014)

9

One of our Trainee Identification

Tutors Kerry helping a student on

Kent Field Meeting Identification

Course

(R.Clark, 2014)

Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Events Events in 2015

UK Earthworm Identification Workshop with

the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre

When: Tue, 23 June 2015, 10:00am – 4:00pm

Where: Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Castle St,

Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 8TP

Fee: £15 per attendee

A one day workshop, including sampling earthworms in the

field. The course fee is £15 and includes a one year

membership to the Earthworm Society of Britain, a copy of the

AIDGAP Earthworm key, ESB recording guides and sampling

tubes.

Book with Tullie House Box Office on 01228 618718.

Wildlife Training Workshop: Identification of

Earthworms with the Wildlife Trust for

Bedfordshire,Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

When: Sat, 14 November 2015, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Where: Lings, Northampton, Northamptonshire

This one day workshop is being run by the Wildlife Trust for

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire so

please check the events section of their website for more

details: www.wildlifebcn.org/whats-on

Two more field meetings are currently being

planned. The ESB Yorkshire Field Meeting will take

place in summer 2015 and the ESB Thames Valley

Field Meeting will follow in autumn 2015. Further

details will follow in future ESB Newsletters.

Dan identifying earthworms on the

Bracknell Forest Field Meeting

Identification Course

(V. Gilson, 2014)

Richard, Dan and Kerry

collecting earthworms on

the Kent Field Meeting

Sampling Day

(V. Gilson, 2014)

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Earthworm News

The morphs of Allolobophora chlorotica

Species of the Season

Allolobophora chlorotica, ‘The

Green Worm’, is a widespread

earthworm living in a diverse

range of habitats; including,

probably, your own garden.

A. chlorotica is currently described

as one species with two morphs,

the green morph and the pink

morph. However, last year a team

at Cardiff University studied the

genetics of the two morphs and

their findings suggest there maybe

up to four different species rather

than one. In 2011, The Central Lancashire

University studied the DNA of the two morphs

and their data suggest the two morphs are

separate species. However more research needs

to be done to establish that they are in fact two

different species.

The two morphs do not only have different

colouration and maybe even genetics, but they

also live in different habitats. The pink morph

tends to live in gardens and woodlands, areas

that are damp but not very waterlogged. On the

other hand the Green morph tends to live in wetter conditions, such as grasslands, by

rivers and even under Lake Windermere (see ‘Earthworm’s Survival Tactics in Flooding’ page 2

for more information). Though both morphs do have the same distinctive clitellum and TP

(Tubercula pubertartis) consisting of 3 humps. The

clitellum and TP are reproductive organs and as a

result are only found on adult earthworms.

A. chlorotica is a widespread species. Its native range

spans across Europe through North Africa, Asia and

into Japan. The species, however, is now found in

North and South America, Africa and New Zealand after being

introduced by humans.

Allolobophora chlorotica is known as the Green Worm

because of its green colouration - though this is one of two

morphs (the other morph is pale pink/grey colour

(image - NHM.ac.uk, 2014)

The three distinctive

humps found on

adult A. chlorotica’s

clitellum

(image—NHM.ac.uk)

Allolobophora chlorotica the Pink morph

which is a pale pink/grey colour

(image - NHM.ac.uk, 2014)

Written By Rachel Julie Clark

11

The Velvet Worm is considered to be a missing

link between arthropods (e.g. insects and

arachnids) and annelids (segmented worms).

They may sound cute, soft and maybe even

cuddly, however, the Velvet Worm has a dark

side. It catches prey with slime and stabs its

jaws into the victims body to dispatch it.

The Velvet worm is scientifically known as

Onychophora which means ‘claw-bearers’. This

is due to the double claws they possess on the bottom of their stumpy, little legs. Velvet

worms have between 13 to 43 pairs of legs on a circular soft body. These little, stumpy-legged

creatures were the first animals to permanently walk on land - over 400 million years ago.

Velvet worms, unlike the humble earthworm, give birth to live young, which hatch from

their eggs inside their mother. This is known as ovoviviparity. After birth the young have no

parental care, showing, once more, the darker side of the velvet worm.

Velvet worms live in tropical countries; such as Central and South America, India, Australia,

Malaysia. Fossils of the velvet worm have been found in the Northern Hemisphere,

suggesting they inhabited further north during a warmer climate. Velvet worms live in dark,

damp environments such as leaf litter, rotting wood and stones, they even dwell in termite

tunnels. They are carnivorous, feeding on a range of invertebrates such as termites, woodlice

and spiders. They capture their prey by tangling them up in a sticky liquid that they squirt

out of a segment on their head, then suck the liquid out of the body of their prey. They also

use their slime as a defence mechanism.

Velvet worms such as Euperipatoides rowelli is

suggested to be a missing link between insect

and segmented worms (from NHM.ac.uk)

Written by Rachel Julie Clark

Tasmanipatus barretti (giant velvet worm) (left) is from Tasmania and Tasmanipatus

anophthalmus (blind velvet worm) (right) from Australia were classified in to a new genus in

1991 (images, NHM.ac.uk)

Earthworm News

The Truth About Velvet Worms

Curiosity Page Velvet worms, they are

called worms, so they

are closely related to

earthworms, right?

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Earthworm News Volume 5, Issue 2 Winter 2014

Slime Time Puzzle of the Season

6

Complete this puzzle in two easy steps!

Solve the anagrams to get the clue

The Clue

1 4 5 2 3 6 7 8 9 10

11 14 15 12 13 16 17 18 19

A stocking filler?

The answer

We have found this fabulous little poetry book for

children on earthworms, written by Celia Warren.

This gem of a book not only has nursery rhymes and

poems on earthworms but little nuggets of

environmental and science education within them.

You can find the book on sale at the Bloomsbury

website for around £5.

You can buy it as a paperback or as an ebook.

TISH RAEMORTHR NAC VELI NI REFSH RATWE NAD MIOSEMSET NEOLSC FILEST

8 12

5

18

19 11

17

3 16 13

9 1

2 7

6

4 10 14

15

The letters in the numbered boxes, once put in order , will

reveal the answer.