Soil Ecology Wiki - User contributions [en]

Black Willow

2018-05-20T15:45:01Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]]

Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicylic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc.

[[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. "Various vertebrate animals also rely on Black Willow as a food source or as a provider of protective habitat. Both the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) feed on fallen willow leaves and/or catkins (Lagler, 1943). The Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Sparrow, and such ducks as the Mallard and Northern Pintail feed on willow buds and/or catkins during the spring, when other food sources are scarce (Bennetts, 1900; Devore et al., 2004). Some birds, including the Rusty Grackle, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo, occasionally use willows as the location for their nests. Black Willow is one of the trees that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker drills holes into so that it can feed on the sap. Deer, elk, and cattle are known to browse occasionally on the leaves and twigs of this tree, while beavers feed on the wood and use the branches in the construction of their dams and lodges (Martin et al., 1951/1961)."

[[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/bl_willow.htm

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

Black Willow

2018-05-20T15:44:25Z

Johnkova:

Black Willow

2018-05-20T15:43:47Z

Johnkova:

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-20T15:41:01Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had.

[[File:Worm.jpg]]

That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an ongoing debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Crazy worms are a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. "In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds and other animals may decline. By disturbing the soil, jumping worms help facilitate the spread of invasive species. Jumping worms can severely damage roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests and turf." This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch.

[[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, if there is only young crazy worms present, or very few, damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/species-spotlight-crazy-snake-worm/

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestmanagement/documents/wildcards/fr-518.pdf

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-20T15:40:13Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an ongoing debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Crazy worms are a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. "In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds and other animals may decline. By disturbing the soil, jumping worms help facilitate the spread of invasive species. Jumping worms can severely damage roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests and turf." This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, if there is only young crazy worms present, or very few, damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/species-spotlight-crazy-snake-worm/

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestmanagement/documents/wildcards/fr-518.pdf

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Moss

2018-05-20T15:35:46Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation. These are the types of conditions that start the beginning phases of new life.
[[File:Erosion-control.jpg]]
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and once they have lived and died enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. Because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas.

[[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medical use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."

[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. Which turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of sphagnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

Willis K.J. and McElwain J.C. 2002. The evolution of plants. Oxford.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

Moss

2018-05-20T15:35:00Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation. These are the types of conditions that start the beginning phases of new life.
[[File:Erosion-control.jpg]]
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and once they have lived and died enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. Because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas. [[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medical use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. Which turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of sphagnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

Willis K.J. and McElwain J.C. 2002. The evolution of plants. Oxford.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

Moss

2018-05-20T15:34:18Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation. These are the types of conditions that start the beginning phases of new life.
[[File:Erosion-control.jpg]]
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and once they have lived and died enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. Because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas. [[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medical use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. Which turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of sphagnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

Willis K.J. and McElwain J.C. 2002. The evolution of plants. Oxford.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

File:20180510 121332.jpg

2018-05-17T22:38:08Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:20180510 121332.jpg

File:Range.png

2018-05-17T22:36:12Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Range.png

File:Live staking.jpg

2018-05-17T22:35:56Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Live staking.jpg

File:Bl willow1.jpg

2018-05-17T22:35:40Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Bl willow1.jpg

File:Black willow.jpg

2018-05-17T22:35:26Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Black willow.jpg

Moss

2018-05-17T22:31:27Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are group a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation. [[File:Erosion-control.jpg]]
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and then once they have lived and died and eat away at (lets use the granite as an example) enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas.[[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medicial use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. wish turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of spaghnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

Willis K.J. and McElwain J.C. 2002. The evolution of plants. Oxford.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

File:Sample sphagnum for surgical dressings edited.jpg

2018-05-17T22:30:02Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Sample sphagnum for surgical dressings edited.jpg

File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

2018-05-17T22:28:58Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

2018-05-17T22:27:24Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

2018-05-17T22:26:36Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg

File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg

2018-05-17T22:25:11Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg

File:Lycopodium annotinum club moss.jpg

2018-05-17T22:23:40Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Lycopodium annotinum club moss.jpg

Moss

2018-05-17T22:18:59Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are group a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation. [[File:Erosion-control.jpg]]
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and then once they have lived and died and eat away at (lets use the granite as an example) enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas.[[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medicial use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. wish turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of spaghnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

File:Erosion-control.jpg

2018-05-17T22:17:59Z

Johnkova:

Moss

2018-05-17T22:16:55Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are group a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation.
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and then once they have lived and died and eat away at (lets use the granite as an example) enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas.[[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medicial use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. wish turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of spaghnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2015/09/5-environmental-benefits-of-moss-gardening/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

Moss

2018-05-17T22:13:35Z

Johnkova:

[[File:Lycopodium_annotinum_club_moss.jpg]]

Introduction:

Mosses are group a group of plants that belong to the division Bryophyta. Mosses are extremely important during the early stages of ecological succession. As a new environment is being formed such as sand dunes in Presque Isle or huge boulders made of igneous granite rock in the Adirondacks that were left behind by deglaciation.
In these examples the surfaces becomes inhabited through the process of succession, during which various different plant communities dominate and take over the site such as lichens and then once they have lived and died and eat away at (lets use the granite as an example) enough for something else to take root, mosses come along and then the process continues through time and the species get bigger and more complex.

Structure of moss:
[[File:Chapter-22-lecture-plants-35-728.jpg]]

Reproduction:

Moss have the ability to reproduce A sexually by fragmentation sexual reproduction, which produces millions of microscopic spores. because of this style of reproduction, mosses play a vital role in being among the first colonizers of newly eroded areas.[[File:Moss-to-ferns-18-638.jpg]]

Important role in the environment:

Mosses play an important part in stabilizing soil, reducing erosion, and because of their ability to retain water and being able to maintain humidity in their environments, they in turn reduce the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding plants. They make soils fertile for maintaining life. Peat moss comes to mind as a great example. We add it to our fertilizer for added nutrition in our gardens. Peat mosses are found throughout the northeastern wetland areas, and are what makes up the majority of bogs. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat is abundant in the northern hemisphere and embodies a vast amount of potential energy. In northern Europe, peat is often dried, and compressed into briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still used often as a heating source to cook with. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns clean. About 95% of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, peat improves the water-holding capacity when added to soil.

Medicial use:
[[File:Sample_sphagnum_for_surgical_dressings_edited.jpg]]

Peat moss is acidic in nature which prevents the growth of a lot of different types of bacteria. Because of this they have been used in many different ways such as diapers and during both world wars, when bandages ran low, peat moss were introduced as a great antiseptic dressing for wounds."
As the moss soaks up all the negatively charged nutrients in the soil, it releases positively charged ions that make the environment around it acidic. For wounded humans, the result is that sphagnum bandages produce sterile environments by keeping the pH level around the wound low, and inhibiting the growth of bacteria."
[[File:Swamp-sphagnum-moss-stock-photograph_csp41323298.jpg]]

We know longer use mosses for bandages mostly because it isn't cost effective to dig the stuff up. wish turns out is a good thing because we need mosses to stay where there at. Vast areas full of spaghnum and other types of mosses have been accumulating carbon for thousands of years under the ground and in certain areas if they defrost or dry out, the carbon stores will leak out which would be horrible for climate change.

Sources:

[[https://basicbiology.net/plants/non-vascular/mosses/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/moss_facts/504/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humble-moss-helped-heal-wounds-thousands-WWI-180963081/#48rLVhQdlQOrXyb4.99

https://alaskanessences.com/club-moss-i-lycopodium-annotinum-i

https://www.slideshare.net/andresfgomezl/moss-to-ferns

https://www.canstockphoto.com/texture-background-swamp-sphagnum-moss-41323298.html

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T22:08:59Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an on going debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. "In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds and other animals may decline. By disturbing the soil,jumping worms help facilitate the spread of invasive species. Jumping worms can severely damage roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests and turf." This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/species-spotlight-crazy-snake-worm/

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestmanagement/documents/wildcards/fr-518.pdf

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T22:04:16Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an on going debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. "In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds and other animals may decline. By disturbing the soil,jumping worms help facilitate the spread of invasive species. Jumping worms can severely damage roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests and turf." This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestmanagement/documents/wildcards/fr-518.pdf

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T22:03:12Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an on going debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. "In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds and other animals may decline. By disturbing the soil,jumping worms help facilitate the spread of invasive species. Jumping worms can severely damage roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests and turf." This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:58:33Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an on going debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/a/4227/files/2017/11/JumpingWoms_FactSheet-11_15_17-2026fwt.pdf

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:55:33Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from Europe and though there is an on going debate whether they are helpful or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea and is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:53:52Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. [[File:Worm.jpg]] That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

File:Worm.jpg

2018-05-17T21:52:58Z

Johnkova:

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:44:11Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.

[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:43:41Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]

Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:42:55Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]
Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:42:11Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them.
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion.[[File:Worm_deer.jpg]] Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:39:37Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left much the same as locus will will dominate an area. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them. [[File:Worm_deer.jpg]]
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/native-plants-crazy-snake-worm/

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

File:Worm deer.jpg

2018-05-17T21:37:31Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Worm deer.jpg

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:35:32Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left much the same as locus will will dominate an area. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis: [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them. [[File:Worm deer.jpg]]
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:35:03Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left much the same as locus will will dominate an area. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

[[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis:

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them. [[File:Worm deer.jpg]]
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:34:20Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. [[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left much the same as locus will will dominate an area. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis:

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them. [[File:Worm deer.jpg]]
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

Amynthas agrestis

2018-05-17T21:33:18Z

Johnkova:

The Amynthas agrestis is more wildly known as the Asian jumping worm or crazy worm. It is an invasive species that out competes local native earthworms. It takes over a forest floor section by section till there is nothing left much the same as locus will will dominate an area. Amynthas agrestis is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum, Annelida, Class, Clitellata, Order Haploxida, and Family Megascolecidae.
[[File:Crazy_worm.jpg|Crazy_worm.jpg]]

Characteristics of Amynthas agrestis:

They are very active.
They slither like a snake which is not normal of other annelids.
Clitellum is light in contrast.
Iridescent, and violet colors in direct sunlight.
They will shed their tails to escape predation just like their close relative the Alabama Jumper (amynthas gracilis).
Their vermicast is very large and has the resemblance and characteristics of cooked ground beef.
On the surface this annelid seems to be just another earth worm but as we dig deeper we find that they are having a huge devastating effect on forest floor substrate and the vital nutrients that make up the food web of the forest as a whole.

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca7n3Gf3xX4"

Backround:

In the Northeast during the last ice age around 10,000 years ago massive glaciers scraped the bedrock bare as they receded over hundreds of years and in doing so also cleared out any native earthworms we originally had. That being said we have brought new earthworms over from the old world and though there is an on going debate whether they are a help or a hindrance, for the most part we assume at the moment that they are doing more good than bad. The Amynthas agrestis that is from Japan and Korea is much different than our other earthworms and as part of their name suggests, they are very aggressive and much different than the European earthworms.

Reproduction:

One of many differences is their reproduction process. Most earth worms are hermaphroditic which means that they all have male and female organs. However, they still need a mate to complete the reproductive process. Amynthas agrestis on the other hand are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who then have the ability to make cocoons filled with hundreds of babies that are also female and there for never needing to mate with another so it only takes one worm in any given area to lead to infestation.

They also mature twice at twice the rate of European earthworms, finishing two generations per season instead of just one. Their population density also gets greater than other worms. Their a much larger species growing to lengths of 8 inches long. That leads to a massive worm biomass that will destroy all biomass in its path. This includes lawns as well as the roots of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. In the forests, they destroy the native wildflowers, wiping out such plants as trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, lady slipper, and other understory plants. As these understory plants disappear they take with them the understory songbirds with them. [[File:Worm deer.jpg]]
“As Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, the soil becomes clumpy and granular and prone to compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat to the future of our forests.”

“Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch. [[File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg]]

There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.”

Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder.

Sources:

https://urbanwormcompany.com/crazy-worm-amynthas-agrestis

New York State Urban Forestry Council. http://nysufc.org/worms-bad-urban-forest/2017/10/14/#more-3574

“Amynthas Agrestis.” INaturalist.org, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/364093-Amynthas-agrestis.

http://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/

File:Crazy worm.jpg

2018-05-17T21:32:29Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Crazy worm.jpg

File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg

2018-05-17T21:30:29Z

Johnkova: Johnkova uploaded a new version of File:Amynthas-agrestis-crazy-worm-1.jpg

Black Willow

2018-05-11T04:14:57Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc.

[[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. "Various vertebrate animals also rely on Black Willow as a food source or as a provider of protective habitat. Both the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) feed on fallen willow leaves and/or catkins (Lagler, 1943). The Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Sparrow, and such ducks as the Mallard and Northern Pintail feed on willow buds and/or catkins during the spring, when other food sources are scarce (Bennetts, 1900; Devore et al., 2004). Some birds, including the Rusty Grackle, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo, occasionally use willows as the location for their nests. Black Willow is one of the trees that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker drills holes into so that it can feed on the sap. Deer, elk, and cattle are known to browse occasionally on the leaves and twigs of this tree, while beavers feed on the wood and use the branches in the construction of their dams and lodges (Martin et al., 1951/1961)."

[[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/bl_willow.htm

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

Black Willow

2018-05-11T04:10:44Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc. [[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. "Various vertebrate animals also rely on Black Willow as a food source or as a provider of protective habitat. Both the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) feed on fallen willow leaves and/or catkins (Lagler, 1943). The Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Sparrow, and such ducks as the Mallard and Northern Pintail feed on willow buds and/or catkins during the spring, when other food sources are scarce (Bennetts, 1900; Devore et al., 2004). Some birds, including the Rusty Grackle, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo, occasionally use willows as the location for their nests. Black Willow is one of the trees that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker drills holes into so that it can feed on the sap. Deer, elk, and cattle are known to browse occasionally on the leaves and twigs of this tree, while beavers feed on the wood and use the branches in the construction of their dams and lodges (Martin et al., 1951/1961)."

[[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/bl_willow.htm

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

Black Willow

2018-05-11T04:10:09Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc. [[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. "Various vertebrate animals also rely on Black Willow as a food source or as a provider of protective habitat. Both the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) feed on fallen willow leaves and/or catkins (Lagler, 1943). The Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Sparrow, and such ducks as the Mallard and Northern Pintail feed on willow buds and/or catkins during the spring, when other food sources are scarce (Bennetts, 1900; Devore et al., 2004). Some birds, including the Rusty Grackle, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo, occasionally use willows as the location for their nests. Black Willow is one of the trees that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker drills holes into so that it can feed on the sap. Deer, elk, and cattle are known to browse occasionally on the leaves and twigs of this tree, while beavers feed on the wood and use the branches in the construction of their dams and lodges (Martin et al., 1951/1961)."

[[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/bl_willow.htm

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

Black Willow

2018-05-11T04:08:56Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc. [[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. "Various vertebrate animals also rely on Black Willow as a food source or as a provider of protective habitat. Both the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) feed on fallen willow leaves and/or catkins (Lagler, 1943). The Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Sparrow, and such ducks as the Mallard and Northern Pintail feed on willow buds and/or catkins during the spring, when other food sources are scarce (Bennetts, 1900; Devore et al., 2004). Some birds, including the Rusty Grackle, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo, occasionally use willows as the location for their nests. Black Willow is one of the trees that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker drills holes into so that it can feed on the sap. Deer, elk, and cattle are known to browse occasionally on the leaves and twigs of this tree, while beavers feed on the wood and use the branches in the construction of their dams and lodges (Martin et al., 1951/1961)."

[[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/bl_willow.htm

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

Black Willow

2018-05-11T03:59:24Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc. [[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects. [[File:Bl_willow1.jpg]]

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2230

File:Bl willow1.jpg

2018-05-11T03:58:29Z

Johnkova:

Black Willow

2018-05-11T03:58:02Z

Johnkova:

''Salix nigra''
[[File:Black_willow.jpg ‎]]

Salix nigra does the best in areas of high moisture content such as swamps, river banks and drainage ditches, anywhere that there is adequate lighting, water, and the area is low or just below water level. It is a fast growing and short living tree that has a vast range throughout North America.

Range [[File:Range.png]]

[[File:Live_staking.jpg]] Black willow is very good at soil stabilization so many projects that need erosion control such as river restoration often use willow in their arsenals. It is also the very useful for treating minor aches and pains because it has salicin which is the basic ingredient of aspirin but now the salicyclic acid is synthesized instead of being taken from the trees themselves. It is the most commercially used species of willow because of its strength, and shock resistance and also the fact that it doesn’t splinter with ease. It’s mostly used for boxes and crates as well as wood turning and table tops, wooden carvings etc. [[File:20180510_121332.jpg]]

Black willow is a dioecious. Male and female are indistinguishable with the only exceptions being during flowering times and during the seed developmental process. The beginning of the flowering season begins in February in the south range and goes through the end of June in the north. The flowers do contain nectar meaning that the majority of the pollination process is done by insects.

Pollen can also be carried by the wind. Sees are small light brown and capsule looking in nature, and begin to break open and release seedlings that have little hairs covering them. Another way of reproduction is through cutting post size stocks and placed in adequate moisture with very little effort, plant survival will be near 100 %.

In addition to all of the uses for this species, we are now studying the ways in which willow has the ability to take heavy metals out of the [[soil]]. It is starting to be used in remediation and the [[endophytes]] that are living within the trees tissues are showing to have the capacity to enhance the trees growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors by things such as [[nitrogen fixation]] and the production of phytohormones. Mercury and selenium can also be converted by plants into a volatile form to release and dilute into the atmosphere.

“Heavy metals cannot be metabolized, therefore the only possible strategy to apply is their extraction from contaminated soil and transfer to the smaller volume of harvestable plants for their disposal biomass can also be used in producing energy and, if economically profitable, metals can be eventually recovered”

References

https://www.ernstseed.com/products/bioengineering-materials/

Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 p.

Johnson, R. L., and J. S. McKnight. 1969. Benefits from thinning black willow. USDA Forest Service, Research Note SO-89. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 6 p.
Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 541. Washington, DC. 375 p.

McKnight, J. S. 1965. Black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.). In Silvics of forest trees of the United States. p. 650-652. H. A. Fowells, comp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 271. Washington, DC.

McLeod, K. W., and J. K. McPherson. 1972. Factors limiting the distribution of Salix nigra. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 100(2):102-110.

Randall, W. K. 1971. Willow clones differ in susceptibility to cottonwood leaf beetle. In Proceedings, Eleventh Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference. Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee Sponsored Publication 33. p. 108-111. Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, GA.

Sakai, A., and C. J. Wiser. 1973. Freezing resistance of trees in North America with reference to tree regions. Ecology 54(l):118-126.

Taylor, F. W. 1975. Wood property differences between two stands of sycamore and black willow. Wood and Fiber 7(3):187-191.

Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press Austin 1104 p.

Article homeguides.sfgate.com/willow-tree-fungus

http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents/?id=ifor0555-004

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