ABSTRACT
Earthworms are regularly referred to as ‘‘ecosystem engineers’’ because of the dramatic
changes they impose on the structural, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. As
such, there has been increasing interest in using earthworms as ecological indicators of soil
quality, beneficial land management, and industrial remediation. However, there are instances
where earthworms that were accidentally or intentionally (to increase soil productivity)
introduced have become invasive (Gundale et al. 2005). Regardless, earthworms are relatively
easy to find, recognize, and sample, and with limited instruction, can be identified into specific
taxonomic groups, making the ideal starting point for studying soil biology or ecology.
