The Good, The Bad & The Ugly With Colgate University’s__Tim McCay

Although earthworms are well known for their positive role as decomposers of plant litter, they can have negative effects on ecosystems in which they did not evolve. The central problem regarding exotic earthworms in Upstate New York is that little information is available to land managers regarding the distributions of exotic and native taxa. Colgate Professor Tim McCay seeks to develop a better understanding of the distributions of exotic and native worm species in natural areas of central New York, and a better understanding between the different species and land-cover types in the region.

Tim McCay is a Professor of Biology & Environmental Science at Colgate University. His research focuses on the forest floor ecosystem, soils, plant debris, and associated organisms, namely shrews and earthworms.

Author: CFA Staff