Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Elements Of Biocontrol Strategies For Pheretimoid Earthworms, Maryam Nouri-Aiin

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Jumping worms (Megascolecidae) in the pheretimoid complex, have raisedconsiderable environmental concerns with conservationists, ecologists, policy makers, and the public. Their impacts on North American forests and high density is distinct from earthworms in other families. Most of the infested forests are near horticultural settings. Practicable options to manage their dispersal into forests do not exist. This dissertation examines the potential of an entomopathogenic fungus to control them in horticulture. It also investigates major barriers to managing their spread and studying their ecology including species identification, phenology, and genetic diversity. First, to discover the best time to apply biocontrol agents, I …