Global distribution of earthworm diversity
Authors: Phillips Helen R. P. , Guerra Carlos A. , Bartz Marie L. C. , Briones Maria J. I. , Brown George , Crowther Thomas W. , Ferlian Olga , Gongalsky Konstantin B. , van den Hoogen Johan , Krebs Julia , Orgiazzi Alberto , Routh Devin , Schwarz Benjamin , Bach Elizabeth M. , Bennett Joanne M. , Brose Ulrich , Decaëns Thibaud , König-Ries Birgitta , Loreau Michel , Mathieu Jérôme , Mulder Christian , van der Putten Wim H. , Ramirez Kelly S. , Rillig Matthias C. , Russell David , Rutgers Michiel , Thakur Madhav P. , de Vries Franciska T. , Wall Diana H. , Wardle David A. , Arai Miwa , Ayuke Fredrick O. , Baker Geoff H. , Beauséjour Robin , Bedano José C. , Birkhofer Klaus , Blanchart Eric , Blossey Bernd , Bolger Thomas , Bradley Robert L. , Callaham Mac A. , Capowiez Yvan , Caulfield Mark E. , Choi Amy , Crotty Felicity V. , Crumsey Jasmine M. , Dávalos Andrea , Diaz Cosin Darío J. , Dominguez Anahí , Duhour Andrés Esteban , van Eekeren Nick , Emmerling Christoph , Falco Liliana B. , Fernández Rosa , Fonte Steven J. , Fragoso Carlos , Franco André L. C. , Fugère Martine , Fusilero Abegail T. , Gholami Shaieste , Gundale Michael J. , López Mónica Gutiérrez , Hackenberger Davorka K. , Hernández Luis M. , Hishi Takuo , Holdsworth Andrew R. , Holmstrup Martin , Hopfensperger Kristine N. , Lwanga Esperanza Huerta , Huhta Veikko , Hurisso Tunsisa T. , Iannone Basil V. , Iordache Madalina , Joschko Monika , Kaneko Nobuhiro , Kanianska Radoslava , Keith Aidan M. , Kelly Courtland A. , Kernecker Maria L. , Klaminder Jonatan , Koné Armand W. , Kooch Yahya , Kukkonen Sanna T. , Lalthanzara H. , Lammel Daniel R. , Lebedev Iurii M. , Li Yiqing , Jesus Lidon Juan B. , Lincoln Noa K. , Loss Scott R. , Marichal Raphael , Matula Radim , Moos Jan Hendrik , Moreno Gerardo , Morón-Ríos Alejandro , Muys Bart , Neirynck Johan , Norgrove Lindsey , Novo Marta , Nuutinen Visa , Nuzzo Victoria ,   Mujeeb Rahman P, Pansu Johan , Paudel Shishir , Pérès Guénola , Pérez-Camacho Lorenzo , Piñeiro Raúl , Ponge Jean-François , Rashid Muhammad Imtiaz , Rebollo Salvador , Rodeiro-Iglesias Javier , Rodríguez Miguel Á. , Roth Alexander M. , Rousseau Guillaume X. , Rozen Anna , Sayad Ehsan , van Schaik Loes , Scharenbroch Bryant C. , Schirrmann Michael , Schmidt Olaf , Schröder Boris , Seeber Julia , Shashkov Maxim P. , Singh Jaswinder , Smith Sandy M. , Steinwandter Michael , Talavera José A. , Trigo Dolores , Tsukamoto Jiro , de Valença Anne W. , Vanek Steven J. , Virto Iñigo , Wackett Adrian A. , Warren Matthew W. , Wehr Nathaniel H. , Whalen Joann K. , Wironen Michael B. , Wolters Volkmar , Zenkova Irina V. , Zhang Weixin , Cameron Erin K. , Eisenhauer Nico 
Published: October 2019

Earthworm distribution in global soils

Earthworms are key components of soil ecological communities, performing vital functions in decomposition and nutrient cycling through ecosystems. Using data from more than 7000 sites, Phillips
et al.
developed global maps of the distribution of earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass (see the Perspective by Fierer). The patterns differ from those typically found in aboveground taxa; there are peaks of diversity and abundance in the mid-latitude regions and peaks of biomass in the tropics. Climate variables strongly influence these patterns, and changes are likely to have cascading effects on other soil organisms and wider ecosystem functions.

Science
, this issue p.
480
; see also p.
425