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Contact: Lindsay Renick Mayer
202-633-3081
Smithsonian
Caption: A forest without earthworms has a rich understory of herbaceous plants, tree seedlings, and shrubs, and a thick, spongy leaf litter layer. A recent decline in ovenbirds, a ground-nesting migratory songbird, in forests in the northern Midwest US is being linked by scientists to earthworms.
Credit: Photo by Scott Loss
Usage Restrictions: Please include photo credit when using photo.
Related news release: Study shows earthworms to blame for decline of ovenbirds in northern Midwest forests
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