University of York Researchers Investigate the Threat of Climate Change and Flooding on Earthworm Populations

University of York Researchers Investigate the Threat of Climate Change and Flooding on Earthworm Populations

(IN BRIEF) Researchers at the University of York, led by Professor Mark Hodson, are launching a two-year study to examine how climate change and increasing flooding in the UK are affecting earthworm populations. Earthworms play a vital role in maintaining soil health, but their survival is threatened by prolonged flooding, which depletes soil oxygen levels. The study will use a combination of fieldwork, lab experiments, and modeling to assess how earthworms respond to rising soil moisture and their ability to avoid drowning. It will also explore the resilience of earthworm cocoons and how different species vary in their tolerance to low oxygen levels. The research aims to better understand the broader impact of climate change on soil ecosystems and food production.

(PRESS RELEASE) YORK, 21-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Ahead of World Earthworm Day on October 21, 2024, University of York researcher Professor Mark Hodson is launching a groundbreaking study to investigate the impact of increasing flooding on earthworm populations across the UK. The study, which blends fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and modern modeling techniques, will focus on how climate change-driven shifts in flood intensity, frequency, and duration are affecting these vital soil creatures.

Earthworms play a crucial role in maintaining healthy soil ecosystems by recycling organic matter, aerating the soil, and promoting drainage. However, as UK flooding worsens due to climate change, their ability to survive in waterlogged soils is being threatened. Earthworms, which breathe through their skin, can only survive in water as long as it contains sufficient oxygen, but prolonged flooding can quickly lead to oxygen-depleted soils, causing them to drown.

The research, led by Professor Hodson from the University of York’s Department of Environment and Geography, aims to map the vulnerability of different earthworm species to climate change by creating flood risk models. These models will examine how earthworms react to rising soil moisture, their ability to move to drier areas ahead of floods, and the resilience of their cocoons, which could help repopulate earthworm populations once floodwaters recede.

The study also builds on previous research that found different earthworm species have varying levels of tolerance to low oxygen levels during floods, although the reasons behind these differences are not fully understood. This study will explore potential factors such as species-specific variations in haemoglobin and their ability to enter dormancy under stressful conditions.

Professor Hodson is joined by a team of experts, including ecologist Ben Pile, environmental physiologist Michael Berenbrink from the University of Liverpool, and hydrologists Megan Klaar and Tom Willis from the University of Leeds. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, the research seeks to better understand the complex interplay between soil health, biodiversity, and climate change to support more resilient agricultural and ecological systems in the future.

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SOURCE: University of York