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/