Non-native earthworms increase the abundance and diet quality of a common woodland salamander in its northern range.

UNLABELLED

Non-native earthworms found in Eastern Canada substantially affect soil properties and plant diversity, but less is known about their impacts on higher faunal species. We investigated the effects of non-native earthworms on populations of , a common woodland salamander. We hypothesized that earthworms could adversely affect by consuming the forest floor, thereby decreasing soil moisture and the abundance of native preys. Conversely, earthworms could positively affect by providing refuge in their abandoned burrows and by being a novel prey. We installed 25 coverboards in 38 mature sugar maple () forests, 24 of which were earthworm-free. Over the next two years, we monitored earthworm and salamander populations using hot mustard extractions and visible implant elastomers, respectively. At a subset of four sites, two with and two without earthworms, we determined salamander diets in the spring (May-June), summer (July-August) and fall (September-October) seasons, using gastric lavage techniques. Forest floor depth decreased, whereas population density, body size and total prey volume of increased, with earthworm abundance. Earthworms, which are soft-bodied and nutritious prey, composed most of the salamander diet at sites with earthworms, volumetrically accounting for > 50% of total prey volume. Despite this, we found fewer prey items in the stomach of salamanders at earthworm-invaded sites, indicating that salamanders are getting a higher caloric intake per feeding while expending less energy. We conclude that non-native earthworms have a net beneficial effect on populations in Eastern Canada, mainly by improving diet quality.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03168-3.