Research project
Sink or swim – threats to earthworm diversity due to flooding
- Start date: 1 September 2024
- End date: 31 August 2026
- Funder: Leverhulme Trust
- Value: £267,684 (total) £79,340 to Leeds
- Partners and collaborators: University of York University of Liverpool
- Primary investigator: Dr Megan Klaar
- External primary investigator: Prof Mark Hodson (PI), University of York and Dr Michael Berenbrink (CoI), University of Liverpool
- Co-investigators: Tom Willis
Earthworms are vital for the health and functioning of most soils. However, flooded soils rapidly become oxygen deficient; unless earthworms move away they can drown.
In this Leverhulme Trust funded project we will explore:
• soil water contents at which earthworms avoid soil
• whether differences in haemoglobin allow some earthworms to survive in flooded soil whilst others drown
• how long earthworm eggs remain viable in flooded soils
• how UK flood hazards may increase due to climate change
With this information we will determine threats to UK earthworm communities from climate change-related increased flooding.
Impact
Leeds will lead on the creation of earthworm flood risk maps that show the vulnerability of earthworm populations to climate change-driven changes in flood extent, frequency and duration.
Project website
https://www.york.ac.uk/environment/research/securing-a-biodiverse-planet/sink-or-swim/