Home page

Image gallery

Project:

Home

Synopsis

Objectives

Quality assurance

References

Project background (continued):

Despite these long term observations and evidence from its country of origin, New Zealand, where it is not considered to be a pest and lumbricid earthworms have been found in the same pastures as planarians at densities of up to 1000m^-2 (Yeates et al., 1998) several trading partners have expressed concern about imports of commodities from Scotland on which the organism could be introduced into new areas of Europe. As a result recently completed SERAD-funded research has been undertaken with the objective of developing a better understanding of the ecology of A. triangulatus within the UK. It has enabled a more accurate assessment of its potential for establishment, further geographical spread, and likely impact on agricultural trade to be made. Particular emphasis was placed on determination of the relationship between survival, multiplication and movement in relation to habitat micrometeorology.

The project resulted in substantial advances in our understanding of both environmental adaptations of A. triangulatus and their effect on the potential for establishment in new geographical areas following passive transport in trade. New techniques and approaches for effective investigation of the biology of this difficult organism have also been developed which now offer potential for rapid advances in this area. Details of the findings have been provided in regular project reports, but several aspects of the work have proved to be of particular importance.

[back..]     [more..]