EARTHWORMS (ANNELIDA: OLIGOCHAETA) IN CAPE BRETON SOILS ACCORDING TO SOIL SERIES, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE

Earthworm communities across Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, exhibit strong biogeographic structuring driven by soil series, parent material, and land use history. Analysis of 114 collections representing 11 -13 European lumbricid species shows clear dominance by Aporrectodea tuberculata, Lumbricus rubellus, and Aporrectodea turgida. Species distributions correspond closely to mapped soil series, with Podzolic soils supporting epigeic forest floor invaders and clay loam tills hosting diverse endogeic assemblages. Functional guild composition indicates limited anecic presence, constraining vertical mixing and deep carbon incorporation. Invasive dynamics are evident in disturbance associated taxa such as Aporrectodea trapezoides, particularly in Richmond County. Soil series comparisons reveal that Westbrook and Queens tills exhibit the strongest agricultural potential particularly in Richmond County. Soil series comparisons reveal that Westbrook and Queens tills exhibit the strongest agricultural potential due to endogeic driven improvements in aggregation and Westbrook and Queens tills exhibit the strongest agricultural potential due to endogeic driven improvements in aggregation and infiltration, whereas aggregation and infiltration, whereas Regosols and disturbance dominated clay tills show low diversity and limited functional redundancy. These findings demonstrate how earthworm interact with soil properties to shape ecosystem processes across Cape Breton Island and highlight the implications for soil health, nutrient cycling, and agricultural management in a predominantly Podzolic landscape.