Earthworm Assemblages and Environmental Factors Across 13 U.S. States

Earthworm communities and environmental variables were collected at 94 sites across 13 states in the eastern and central United States. The dataset includes species-level numerical abundance and dry-weight biomass estimates, alongside site-specific environmental data such as pH, habitat type, and soil drainage class.

Use Cases

• Model earthworm species abundance and biomass using environmental predictors like pH and soil drainage class.
• Analyze the relationship between habitat type and earthworm community composition across 94 sites.
• Investigate the legacy of glaciation on earthworm assemblages using spatial and environmental site data.

Strengths

• Data collected from 94 distinct sites (98 site-seasons) providing broad spatial coverage.
• Includes both biological measures (species abundance, biomass) and environmental variables (pH, habitat type).
• Accompanied by a detailed metadata file defining all variables for clarity.

Limitations

• The dataset is small in file size (40.3 KB), indicating a limited number of observations or features.
• Geographic scope is restricted to 13 states in the eastern and central U.S., limiting broader continental inferences.

Provenance

Source

Timothy McCay, associated with the Ecological Research As Education Network (EREN).

Collection Method

Standardized field sampling protocol; environmental data collected directly or sourced from public datasets.

Time Range

2013 to 2025.

Freshness

Data last updated in March 2026 and includes records from 2013-2025.

Geography

94 sites across 13 states in the eastern and midwestern United States.