Workshop on Earthworm Ecology in Forest, Rangeland and Crop Ecosystems in North America

该提案要求为举办一次讲习班提供资金， 我们对北美生态学的理解。 长江三角洲的水生动物及其在生态系统功能中的作用 与其他地区相比，西半球鲜为人知。 地球，特别是欧洲和大洋洲。 虽然人们普遍 认识到蚯蚓可以对 土壤中的物理，化学和生物过程，它不是 明确其他地理区域的结果如何普遍适用 生态条件和植被组合（特别是 原生动物群）流行于北美洲。 本次研讨会的重点将是蚯蚓的影响 森林、牧场和作物生态系统的土壤过程 北美的气候和土壤条件， 包括加拿大和阿拉斯加，美国大陆，墨西哥和 加勒比群岛。 将邀请各区域的调查员 参加（共10人）。 30人）。 目标是 评估我们目前的理解并规划未来的研究 四个主题领域的需求：1）分类学和生物多样性; 2） 3）生态系统过程; 4）管理 影响 研讨会的最终成果将是一个同行- 审查卷，包含每个主题领域的最终立场文件 和基于海报展示的简短贡献。 这卷 将是一个国家的最先进的资源研究，教学和 应用程序.

This proposal request funding for a workshop to evaluate the state of our understanding of earthworm ecology in North America. The earthworm fauna and their role in ecosystem function in the western hemisphere are poorly known compared with other regions of Earth, especially Europe and Oceania. Although it is widely recognized that earthworms can exert significant influence on physical, chemical and biological processes in soils, it is not clear how generally results from other biogeographic regions apply to ecological conditions and earthworm assemblages (particularly native earthworm fauna) prevalent in North America. The focus of this workshop will be on the influence of earthworms on soil processes in forest, rangeland and crop ecosystems over the range of climatic and soil conditions that occur in North America, including Canada and Alaska, the continental U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean islands. Investigators from each region will be invited to participate (total of ca. 30 people). Objectives are to evaluate our current understanding and to chart future research needs in four topic areas: 1) systematics and biodiversity; 2) biogeography 3) ecosystem processes; and 4) management implications. The final product of the workshop will be a peer- reviewed volume containing final position papers in each topic area and short contributions based on poster presentations. This volume will be a state-of-the-art resource for research, teaching and application.