Become a Biologist Who Saves the World: Jumping Worms Invade Blue Ash Ohio

Biological researchers Maria Jose Murillo, Denis Baldrick, and Patrick Owen at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash campus, conducted an important study looking at native and invasive earthworms in the Blue Ash area, and their findings were shocking. The study is important because it provided early evidence that invasive earthworms are becoming established in the Cincinnati region, Blue Ash Ohio, and documented their distribution relative to native species, supplying data that will help scientists understand and manage ecological changes caused by this biological invasion.

While most earthworms are welcome in composting the soil for growth, their findings revealed the invasive Asian jumping worms Amynthas agrestis and Amynthas tokioensis (named after its local origin) and Metaphire hilgendorfi, a Japanese worm endemic in eastern China and the Koreas, have saturated the Blue Ash area.

Photo- Susan Day UW–Madison Arboretum -Amynthas agrestis- Asian Jumping Worm

They destroy the soil composition, drying it out into a fine but useless material akin to coffee grains while sucking all the nutrients out of the soil limiting the growth and birth cycles of plants, seeds, most flowers and even turf soil. They make the soil prone to landslides for anyone with a hillside. The worm changes a host of native species relying on good soil to eat to that of a desert world (see Sara Farmer’s research article: Invasive jumping worms can change their world).

Amynthas cocoon at arrow surrounded by earthworm casts- Photo- Marie Johnston

Another problem with the species is that their microscopic cocoons, about the size of mustard seeds, are easily transferred via hiking boots of unwary travelers coming to this country from distant lands. We have no foolproof methods to eliminate established populations mostly because their tiny cocoons are very difficult to find. But now that we know they’re in this area we can educate ourselves to at least get rid of them from our own mulch and gardens. There is online advice recommending saturating mustard water on the soil to raise them to the surface and then to pitch them into vinegar water or a container of rubbing alcohol where they won’t survive. One final piece of advice is to take the topsoil of your garden and spread a thin layer less than six inches deep of infested mulch into a clear plastic bag and leave it in direct sunlight for three days as their microscopic eggs will die if exposed to temperatures above 104°F.

If you would like to become biologists doing this sort of important work, prospective students can begin their track at Blue Ash College with a University of Cincinnati and a tuition well known to be nearly half that of other universities; so why not contact a recruiter today?

FAQ

How might I become a biological scientist through the University of Cincinnati?

To inquire about becoming an outdoor lab biologist or conducting ecological fieldwork, you should contact the Department of Biological Sciences through the College of Arts & Sciences Advising page. [1] For general degree pathways, program requirements, or how to get involved as an undergraduate/graduate. For questions regarding the major requirements and options, you can also call the general College of Arts & Sciences advising line, 513–556–5860.

The UCCFS is UC’s premier 17.6-acre outdoor teaching and research facility located approximately 20 miles from the Uptown Campus in Harrison, Ohio. It offers hands-on, multidisciplinary research in animal and plant populations, and environmental processes alongside the 4,000-acre Miami Whitewater Forest. [1, 2, 3, 4]

And to study biology at UC Blue Ash (UCBA), complete your first two years in their Biological Sciences associate degree program, which transfers seamlessly into UC’s bachelor’s degrees. Master the coursework by utilizing free, campus-specific resources and proven active-learning techniques to tackle challenging subjects like molecular biology and anatomy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

You can explore the UCBA Biological Sciences Curriculum to check the required courses, or contact the Biology Department Advising Team to map out your class schedule. [1]