Ph.D., University of Georgia

My research focuses on exotic earthworm invasions in wildland ecosystems. Do earthworm invasions significantly alter soil characteristics and processes, and do such effects impact on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems? Are undisturbed soils and their resident biota resistant to invasions by exotic earthworms? Do native earthworms reduce the impacts of exotic earthworm invasions on soil processes? Do exotic species eventually displace native species even in undisturbed soils? We are using isotopically enriched ( 13 C and 15 N) plant litter to evaluate the effects of native and exotic earthworms and their interactions on soil organic matter dynamics and C-sequestration in old-growth Douglas fir forests in Oregon, deciduous hardwood forests in the southern Appalachians, longleaf pine – wiregrass savannas in north Florida, and tropical rainforests and pastures in Puerto Rico.

1. Earthworm ecology
2. Invasion biology and biogeography of earthworms
3. Effects of soil biota on soil structure and organic matter dynamics

Snyder, B.A., B. Boots and P.F Hendrix. 2009. Competition between non-native earthworms (Amynthas corticis, Megascolecidae) and millipedes (Pseudopolydesmus erasus, Polydesmidae): Effects on carbon cycling and soil structure. Soil Biol Biochem. (in press).

Richardson, R., B. Snyder and P. Hendrix. 2009. Soil moisture and temperature tolerances and optima for a non-native earthworm species, Amynthas agrestis (Oligochaeta: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae).  Southeastern Naturalist (in press).

Hendrix, PF, Callaham MA, Jr., Drake J, Huang CY, James SW, Snyder BA, Zhang W.  2008. Pandora’s Box contained bait:  The global problem of introduced earthworms.  Ann. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Systematics 39:593-613.

Fonte, S.J., A.Y.Y. Kong, C. van Kessel, P. F. Hendrix and J. Six. 2007. Influence of earthworm activity on aggregate-associated carbon and nitrogen dynamics differs with agroecosystem management.  Soil Biol. Biochem. 39:1014-1022.

Hendrix, P.F. (ed.) 2006.  Biological invasions belowground: Earthworms as invasive species. Springer Verlag, Amsterdam.

Huang, C., G. González and P. Hendrix. The re-colonization ability of a native earthworm species, Estherella spp., in Puerto Rican forests and pastures. Caribbean J. Sci. (in press)

Hendrix, P.F., G.H. Baker, M.A. Callaham, Jr., G.A. Damoff, C. Fragoso, G. González , S.W. James, S.L. Lachnicht, T. Winsome, X. Zou. 2006. Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms. Biol. Invasions 8:1201-1204.

Winsome, T. P.F. Hendrix , L.Epstein and W.R. Horwath. 2006. Competitive interactions between native and exotic earthworm species as influenced by habitat quality in a California grassland. Appl. Soil Ecol. 32:38-53.

Bossuyt, H., J. Six and P.F. Hendrix. 2005. Interactive effects of functionally different earthworm species on aggregation and incorporation and decomposition of newly added residue carbon. Geoderma (in press).

Coleman, D.C., D.A. Crossley, Jr., and P.F. Hendrix. 2004. Fundamentals of soil ecology, 2nd ed. Elsevier, New York.

Hendrix, P.F. and C.A. Edwards. 2004. Earthworms in agroecosystems: Research approaches. In: C.A. Edwards, ed. Earthworm ecology, 2nd ed.. St. Lucie Press, Boca Raton. pp. 287-295.

James, S.W. and P.F. Hendrix. 2004. Invasion of exotic earthworms into North America and other regions. In: C.A. Edwards, ed. Earthworm ecology, 2nd ed.. St. Lucie Press, Boca Raton. pp. 75-88.

Van Vliet, P.C.J. and P.F. Hendrix. 2003. Role of fauna in soil physical processes. In: LK Abbott and DV Murphy, eds. Soil Biological Fertility – A Key To Sustainable Land Use In Agriculture. Klewer Publishers.

Lavelle, P., L. Brussaard and P. Hendrix (eds.). 1999. Earthworm management in tropical agroecosystems. CAB International Publishers, London.

Hendrix, P.F. (ed.).  1995.  Earthworm ecology and biogeography in North America.  Lewis Publishers, Ann Arbor.