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Environment

You Will Never Guess the Latest Global Warming Villain: Earthworms

Feb. 5, 2013 8:30pm Erica Ritz

Researchers Say Earthworms Contribute to Global Warming, Climate Change

(Photo: Penny Hillcrest/Shutterstock)

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change claims that earthworms may be contributing to global warming. The invertebrates join the ranks of humans, cows and dinosaurs as creatures said to have contributed to the planet’s destruction.

The U.K. Guardian has more on the study conducted by researchers from the Netherlands, the United States, and Colombia:

The presence of worms affects how much carbon dioxide is produced in the soil and how much escapes to the atmosphere. Scientists are concerned that earthworms increase greenhouse gas emissions – and that earthworm numbers are on the rise.

Nitrous oxide is another powerful greenhouse gas. Bacteria in the earthworms’ gut produce nitrous oxide and emissions from worm-infested soil can be three times as high as from soil without any worms, the paper says.

For a while, scientists have faced a problem. They know earthworms can increase emissions from soil. But worms can also help the soil store carbon more efficiently, permanently locking it away.

For a while it was unclear whether worms increase or decrease the total carbon emissions from soil – what scientists rather affectionately called the earthworm dilemma.

The scientists in the new study combined all the results they could find to study this question. Overall, they found that the presence of earthworms in soil increased nitrous oxide emissions by 42 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by 33 per cent. [Emphasis added]

“Over the next few decades, earthworm presence is likely to increase in ecosystems worldwide,” the researchers inform. “For example, large parts of North American forest soils are now being invaded by earthworms for the first time since the last glaciation.”

The worm population is apparently flourishing for a number of reasons, one of which is the switch to more organic fertilizers.

But Ingrid Lubbers from Wageningen University said they still need more time to determine “to what extent global worming leads to global warming.”

The paper concludes with the acknowledgement that earthworms are “largely beneficial to soil fertility,” but “increase net soil greenhouse-gas emissions.”

(H/T: WeaselZippers)

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Comments (114)

nighttrainno9
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:52pm
Good, I can use more worms in my soil.

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- FieldJudge
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:27am
  Great…
  First the godless Earth worshipers and their “science god” blamed Global Warming/Climate Change (whatever…) on humans producing too much CO2. Then they pointed to the cows. And now earthworms??? Hey Idoits, termites are people too! Check out how much CO2 termites kick out!!!
  
  Whatever you do, don’t blame the activity cycles of volcanoes, the oceans, and the sun.
  Useful Morons…
  
  Report this comment
- 4xeverything
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:04am
  Ahhhh…we’re all doomed! From dinosaur farts to worm poop we just can’t win. Now, I wonder how long it will take some college party guy to package and sell the nitrous oxide.
  
  Report this comment
- BSdetector
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 10:52am
  Next global warming villains: Bees!
  Quick, douse everything in Roundup!
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:54pm
  Just what I was thinking.
  
  I was also thinking about how much of a joke the Green Lobby is today
  
  Report this comment
- landowner
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:15pm
  OK who else remembers the 60′s and 70′s when “The Next Ice Age” is UPON US!!! Scientists were proposing that we spread coal dust on the ice caps to hold the heat from the sun in and so it would not reflect out!!!
  
  They called reasonable people nuts then too. Worms….indeed.
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:16pm
  Now is my chance to open that bait shop next to the trout stream.
  
  Report this comment
lassiegirldawn
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:43pm
You know all the foliage that drops in the Fall and Winter, worms help it as it rots. I have a compost pile and after it is pretty much dirt, the worms seem to move on. I have the best soil that does not have chemicals in it and you can taste the difference of the produce. By the way, I think worms were here before the global warming scam.

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- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:03pm
  Exactly!
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:49pm
  Worms are the soldiers of the soil. They and the other insects of this world are the main reason why human life can exist in such a state as we do. Without them, we would starve and perish. If this isn’t proof enough that the entire AGW thing is a farce intended to make human beings become self loathing creatures that hold no value in reproduction, then I don’t know what is.
  
  Report this comment
- Jake Dog2
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:36am
  More of your tax dollar at work. What a crock. Hummmm.I remember when I was little and we hunted night crawler for fishing in Nebraska. I was always reminded to only take what we needed. The worms were great for the soil because they aerated it and broke down material in the soil for the grass and so that rain was better absorbed. I would be that if there where more worms in some place that the soil would be better for growing. OH and hey what about food for the birds you PETA people.
  
  Report this comment
- Bonnieblue2A
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:54am
  Vermiculture also produces worm tea, which when diluted, makes some of the best organic plant fertilizer. Plants consume CO2. Extra red wigglers to feed the birds and with which to fish. Win, win all around.
  
  Report this comment
- fishmagnet
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 11:07am
  Earth worms are actually an invasive species to the northern American forests. As good they are for the garden they have put strain on maple and some pines which have shallow root systems. These trees evolved to take nutrients from the upper surface of the soil, leaf litter and such. Worms also feed in the same area taking nutrients from the trees and depositing them deeper in the soil aiding other flora. No comments on global warming but something that seems so benign and natural to our environment can actually have a major impact on the make up of our forests.
  
  Report this comment
GJPinks
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:09pm
That worm looks evil and dangerous. It must be an assault worm.

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- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:45am
  comforteagle,
  
  Do your own research, your a smart man, put your nose into the dictionary, not off the internet!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:23am
  Sorry GJ,
  I meant to directed this to comforteagle,
  Sorry sir/ma’m!!!
  
  Report this comment
RationalMan
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:57pm
Pseudo-Scientist again…LOL

That worm looks like “Piers Morgan” all full of ****!!!!!

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- comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:28pm
  What is fake about the science? Please explain how the numbers are fake… Thanks
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:35pm
  Look under this word “Pseudo-Science” you’ll find your answer!
  
  Don’t be so judgmental!
  
  Seek and you will find!
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:38pm
  I liked the SNL news (with Chevy Chase):
  
  “…this just in – white mice cause cancer!”
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:50pm
  BTW, their are differences between “True Science vs. Pseudo-Science”
  
  This is “True Science”…..
  Science was born as a result and consequence of philosophy; it cannot survive without a philosophical (particularly epistemological) base. If philosophy perishes, science will be next to go.
  
  I to in favor of science, but, not for “Pseudo-Science”!
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:59pm
  It is the same thing as fake or quasi…. so tell me, what is psuedo/quasi/fake?
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:02pm
  Listen. i have studied philosophers such as Karl Popper and Kuhn as well as others. Popper demarcates science by its ability to be ‘proved’ wrong…. so tell me how this is metaphysical….
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:10pm
  comforteagle,
  
  Look up the word “Pseudo-Science”…
  
  If I tell you, you’ll forget, but, if you look it up yourself you’ll never forget!!!!
  
  Not being an S.O.B. but, mark my word you’ll never forget, there is such a word as
  “Pseudo-Science”!
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:19pm
  I have multiple books on psuedo science and its demarcatio from science… you still havent answered why you think this is psuedo science… you just keep repeating yourself. grow some bollocks and tell me why this science is psuedo please.
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:22pm
  I am assuming you have no idea about Popper or his theories… Everyone should read his Logic Of Scientific Discoveries. this is the dominating view of science vs psuedo science/metaphysics…
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:47pm
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:44pm
  comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:19pm
  I have multiple books on psuedo science and its demarcatio from science….
  ______________________________________________________________________________
  
  Check it for yourself, I know the answer, but, it sounds like you don’t know and you know, you don’t know!
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:53pm
  comforteagle,
  
  What does Popper mean by Logic?
  
  Logic means to establish the truth of for answers is logic, and logic rests on the axiom that existence exists. Does Popper mention this? ….A contradiction cannot exist.
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:03am
  You sound like a toddler. “i know but im seeing if you know” sounds like something a 6 year old.would say. I have told.you the demarcation is falsification and you have avoided my question 4 or 5 times… Let show just how much you can avoid…. tell me/us how exactly this is psuedoscience? Fyi this is the definition…. a discipline or approach that pretends to be or has a close resemblance to science
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:07am
  comforteagle
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:22pm
  I am assuming you have no idea about Popper or his theories… Everyone should read his Logic Of Scientific Discoveries. this is the dominating view of science vs psuedo science/metaphysics…
  _______________________________________________________________________________
  
  Oh yes, everyone should look under Natural Philosophers vs. Psuedo-Philosophers too!
  
  True science vs psuedo science!!!
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:11am
  Again, check your own premise and define the terms!
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:16am
  Popper speaks of the axioms at length… If you knew anything about him.you would know he is a.conventionalist…. if you knew anything.about logic you would know axioms can not (by definition) be.reduced or proved… science is tenitivly accepted universal statments which can help deduce singular statements. all accepted universal statements have to be falsifiable or they are psuedoscience. we agree o the axioms, or as popper refers to them, as basic statments… … try answering the only question i asked…. just answer it one time.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:25am
  To Popper,
  Does man exists? Existence exists!
  
  If man doesn’t exists, then he is a “Subject”, just like in England! (We really don’t exist)!
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:27am
  What is your question????
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:38am
  Alright… post all you want. you have zero intellect. zero ability to answer for assurtions you make. and zero reasons for your original post. if you cant stand up for yourself then dont post on this site… anyone who reads this is going to see how dumb you sound. You dont know anything about philosophy or science. try reading just one book. Lacatose is a good read, kind of a hybrid of kuhn and popper.
  
  My only hope for you is that you are just playing dumb to advance the stigmata that beck listeners are anti-science/thought/philosophy
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:40am
  What exactly is psuedo about this science? Be specific about how the numbers are inaccurate and unfalsifiable
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:03am
  Let me see they attack humans, cows for farting and now a earthworm? “Pseudo-Science”!
  
  What do you think!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:14am
  First. this article mentioned nothi g about ‘human or cow farts’ or for that matter even worm farts… try reading it again. it really doesnt even say worms cause global warming what it says is “ paper concludes with the acknowledgement that earthworms are “largely beneficial to soil fertility,” but “increase net soil greenhouse-gas emissions”….. They say they still have work to do on whether they cause any change in climate change. so once again you have not answered why you say this article is psuedoscience… give me some reason i should doubt the numbers they give?
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:17am
  This article was simply co airing the greenhouse gasses in soil with compaired to soil without worms. what is so ‘psuedo’?
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:36am
  comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:14am
  First. this article mentioned nothi g about ‘human or cow farts’ or for that matter even worm farts….
  ________________________________________________________________________________
  
  True about this article, but, follow the “Time-line” yes it’s like puzzle! These people cannot make up their minds….Can I say Government subsidize? (At taxpayers expense)?
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:41am
  I will tell you what you cant say… You cannot say why this article is psuedoscience like you accused it of, so you changed the subject to taxes… You are a joke sir
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:01am
  Again check into psuedo-science, Mr. know it all!!!!
  
  What brought this Great Nation into “Power” was Natural Philosophers not Psuedo-Philosophers!
  
  And “True science not Psuedo science”!!!
  
  This is the only way that brought our nation to it’s “Greatness” and it’s the only way out!!!
  
  Natural Philosophers and True science!!!
  
  Report this comment
sURFNmADNESS
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:56pm
I promise to fish at least twice as much in the coming years with live worms more often. :) Everyone should be made to fish at least once a month to fix the problem.

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woodyee
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:51pm
Stupidity on Parade.

Don’t get all worked up over it, folks. It’s not YOU they’re trying to fool, it’s the easily gullible worshippers of the Captain of the Ship of Fools (AND Hero of the Stupid) that they have an easy win over!

For those of you that missed it earlier –

“BAMA-PHONE!”

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- Lord_Frostwind
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:11am
  And that parents is why you were fraggin idiots for letting your kids watch Captain Planet when they were young. Well, that and several other sources have now lead them to honestly believe all of this bull crap!
  
  Report this comment
Sr Newk
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:22pm
These Global Warming ******** are just plain idiots!.

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- TROONORTH
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:28pm
  Quick! Everyone get a fishing rod and save the planet!
  
  Report this comment
- THXll38
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:56pm
  Good one! I think I shall take you up on that offer.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:13pm
Damn those blasted worm farts…

Destroying the entire Planet !!!

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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:34pm
  Get rid of the dirt. It just makes everything dirty anyway.
  
  Report this comment
qpwillie
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:10pm
Earthworms work the soil and make more and bigger, healthy plants grow. Big healthy plants breath in more carbon dioxide and release more oxygen. It all evens out. One could think the creator knew exactly what he was doing when he put this thing together.

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:07pm
All that means to me is that earthworms are very good for trees, trees take in CO2 and make O2. People breath O2 and I LIKE to breathe. Earthworms are good or mixing up the soil and keeping it loose or the roots of he vegetables in our garden. I also happen to like fresh vegetables and I bet a lot of Greenies do too. How could they not like the little guys?

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- 4xeverything
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:14am
  Ha! Veggies and trees? Those are awfully big words to try and explain to the global warming crowd. And really, with all of the logic and sense flying around here it’s a wonder we haven’t all burned up in the firey ball of global warming yet.
  
  Report this comment
DEFCON4
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:06pm
Global Worming, Good Grief !
How about the symbiotic relationships with plants, not to mention microorganisms.
Worm ‘castings’ improve soil fertility and increases it’s moisture-holding capabilities.
They’ve certainly opened the ‘proverbial can-of-worms’ with their ‘superior-intellect’.
Hello, worm infestations are a ‘good’ thing and a pleasure to work with…….

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Dkoonz
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:04pm
I need to get me some of them fishing worms before the Obama admin declares war on them.

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Melika
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:57pm
Dude! You are, like, so right! I would NEVER have guessed what the latest global warming culprit is. I, like, can’t totally believe it! OMG! I am, like, so totally wiped out by the headline! This site is, like, totally awesome and cool! I can’t believe I finally found someplace that, like, totally speaks to me as a 15 year old. Awesome-o!

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- DLV
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:43pm
  There isn’t one “like” in the article the way you’re putting it. You just make yourself seem stupid.
  
  Report this comment
- CenterLineStripe
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:08pm
  @DLV, I believe his point was you all sound like 15yr old girls, crying…all the time!!!! oh and sounding like morons… that too
  
  Report this comment
theBru
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:54pm
I guess we need to go fishing more often to help out ole Al and his nutty butty’s…whoodda thunk it, that a worm fart would lead to the destruction of earth,

that is why I always pay attention, learn sumtin new everyday…

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oicu814me2
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:53pm
All soil that is good for growing has passed through the belly of a worm. With out worms nothing wo
uld grow.

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revelation2012
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:53pm
the EVIL ‘they’ THINK to do to all CREATION – WILL BE DONE to ‘them’

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Leveraction3030
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:45pm
So worms create nitrous oxide. Isn’t that the good stuff the dentists use to knock you out and make you laugh like crazy? And all this time I have just been using them for fishing and composting like the green people told us to do. Damn, I believe I will start and earth worm farm and start capturing that stuff. Wonder what the street price is for it. I want to be a job creator.

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- Chuck Stein
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:55pm
  yup, it’s “laughing gas” — N2O — makes a good oxidizer, too. Used on some hybrid rockets.
  
  Report this comment
- Leveraction3030
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:14pm
  Thanks for the info Chuck. I gotta figure out that rocket thing though. Once I get that done I will be able to shoot my stuff in rockets to the big inner city guys and they can sell and distribute it for huge profits. Then they can shoot my load of cash right back to me. Damn gonna make it rich and never leave the farm. I believe this might just put them cartel fellas out of bizness. YEE HAAH.
  
  Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:44pm
Dang, our cats love those things! Go absolutely nuts when they they can find them. Apparently, they are “green” cats.

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pagraywolf
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:43pm
Go fishing – save the planet!

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DefyTYRANNY
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:43pm
Better call in some drone strikes against those Biznatches!

Obviously they are plotting against the United States government.

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revelation2012
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:41pm
killing OFF the ‘bees’ aren’t ENOUGH for ‘THEM’ their ‘worms’ will be tormented eternally

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spfoam1
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:38pm
If these idiots are so worried about CO2 then they should stop producing ethanol for fuel.

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nojoke
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:37pm
save the planet
kill everything that moves or breathes.

maybe eugenics should have been done to those scientist

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Advection
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:37pm
Total, utter madness.

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LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:36pm
Anyone who has ever farmed, knows earthworms condition and loosen the soil.
Everything grows better in worm enriched soil.

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- Tretka
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:08am
  LeadNotFollow-Your right. That is why they want our worms…
  
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