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Impacts of Earthworm Invasions on Forest Ecosystems
The chapter explores the disruptive effects of earthworm invasions on forest ecosystems in the northern states of the US, detailing how they outcompete native organisms like fungi and disrupt soil biodiversity. It discusses the shift from fungal to bacterial-dominated systems, affecting decomposition rates and root communication networks, leading to a loss of the organic layer on the forest floor. The conversation raises questions about the balance of benefits and harms that earthworms bring to different ecosystems.