New Paper Published!

Buchholz, Erin, Nate Lund, Lee Frelich, and Kyungsoo Yoo. “Sentinel Soil-Plant Continuum: How Public Gardens Can Advance Early Detection and Monitoring of Invasive Jumping Worms.” Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 9 (May 2026): 1824795. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2026.1824795.

Public gardens across the United States have long served as early warning systems, helping scientists track and assess the damage that invasive pests and shifting climate conditions can inflict on trees and plants. In this perspective article, we make the case that these gardens can and should do more—specifically, that their role should expand to include monitoring changes happening underground, in the soils that support entire ecosystems. Our argument is based on our continuing research on invasive earthworms. Unlike typical garden pests that damage leaves or stems, jumping worms fundamentally restructure the soil itself—depleting the spongy layer of organic matter that native plants depend on, altering how soil holds water, and contributing to erosion. Because their damage works from the belowground, plant-focused monitoring alone can miss the warning signs until it's too late. We believe public gardens are uniquely positioned to help. They already host long-term plant collections, trained staff, and strong connections to scientists and local communities. By extending what they observe to include soil health alongside plant health, these institutions could become powerful hubs for detecting ecological change—before it becomes visible on the surface.