Earthworms
Sea lamprey, Asian carp, zebra mussels and earthworms?
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These invaders have the power to alter entire ecosystems. The good news? They may not threaten the climate as some studies previously indicated.
Water
Enlisting earthworms to fight Great Lakes algae
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Earthworms help soil retain moisture.
And their tunnels helps the roots of cover crops penetrate more deeply into soil.
That kind of action reduces the amount of water running off the land and carrying the nutrients that can nourish explosive algae growth in the Great Lakes.
Wildlife
Get your hands dirty during “Big Worming Week”
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Now that we’ve let you in on the big invasive worm secret, we’re letting you know how to help. Great Lakes Worm Watch is hosting the fourth annual Big Worming Week, which started Sunday and will run through Oct. 2nd. Things started in the Hartley Nature Center where the Worm Watch team taught the public how to sample plots and collect valuable data on worms.
The team offers workshops all year to prepare folks to help out during Big Worming Week. While they encourage and will accept samples year-round, Big Worming Week minimizes the data’s seasonal variability and makes comparing the results easier. In addition to workshops telling you how to be a scientist, there’s a game show about worms, tools to identify worms, books about worms and other wormy things.