Wow thanks guys. Lots of thought provoking things you all have said.
Chris, the species I'm interested in populating my land with are the following
- Denrobaena octaedra
This worm could definitely be considered a "composting worm" but it is probably the most isvasive out of the species I'm interested in.
- Aporrectodea calignosa
This worm would be beneficial in aerating the soil and helping to speed up the conversion of wood chips into soil. It is native to the British isles but is also commonly found in Siberia indicating it's cold hardiness.
- Octolasion tyrtaeum
This worm has basically the same benefits as Aporrectodea calignosa and is also found in Siberia. But this worm has been noted and stuied in relashonship to an agricultural setting.
There are many other species I've investigated, of those which I haven't listed many of them are difficult to find information about but the common denominator of all these worms is that they can be found in Siberia.
I know many people may disagree with my stance on invasive worms, and that is ok, but I will try to describe how I believe their introduction would affect the region that I live.
The main concern of environmentalists is that the worms will eat through and process the thick layer of sponge like moss and leaf litter which is common in some areas, leaving the roots of those trees exposed to dry out and the fear is that the trees will not be able to adjust their root systems fast enough to compensate for this and will die on a mass scale.
Personally I do not believe that will happen on such a mass scale as some environmentalists suggest. At least not in South Central Alaska. I do believe that the worms would increase biodiversity in my region based on numerous observations I've made.
And Chris, you hit the nail on the head, basically I want multiple species of worms each playing their own role in the soil. Another major goal being that they are incorporated into the existing ecosystem and are able to survive without any outside assistance.
My property is part of a an ecosystem that consists of somewhat of a monoculture of black spruce ( roughly 90% or more ) which get consumed by wildfires on a 50 year or so natural cycle. One of the things I've done so far is encouraging other species of plants and trees to grow on the property. I've done this by simply thinning the black spruce especially the diseased and dead ones, and allowing sunlight to get to other species that we're struggling and then adding other native species from my area. Long story short I believe the worms will play a beneficial role in the soil quality and thus the amount of growth on my property
