02476naa a2200385 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400520007410000240012624501500015026000090030052013340030965000170164365000150166065000250167565000110170065000250171165000210173665000190175765000220177665000220179865000160182065000120183665000260184870000120187470000180188670000250190470000300192970000210195970000160198070000170199670000210201377300560203421815562025-11-17       2025    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a1387-35477 ahttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-025-03694-22DOI1 aKENEDY-SIQUEIRA, W.  aMining and changes in rainfall patterns affect earthworm activity and impact the natural regeneration of tropical forests.h[electronic resource]  c2025  aSoil, along with the fauna and plant bio- diversity it sustains, can be affected by various fac- tors, including both natural and human-induced disturbances such as climate fluctuations and min- ing activities. Earthworms are ecosystem engineers highly affected by these changes in soil conditions. In the present study, we evaluated earthworm communi- ties in different climatic periods and their relationship with plant diversity in a region affected by mining tailings. Earthworm diversity was significantly higher during the period of higher precipitation, both in areas affected by mining tailings and in reference sites. Additionally, earthworm species composition was impacted, showing predominant gains despite the influence of mining waste. Earthworm abundance (total and invasive species) was linked to greater plant diversity in the regenerating stratum of refer- ence sites but not in areas impacted by mining waste. These findings highlight the potential consequences of climate change and mining disasters on earthworm communities, as well as on ecosystem structure and dynamics. Moreover, they underscore the environ- mental impacts of the world’s largest mining disaster on earthworm diversity within one of the planet’s key biodiversity hotspots, emphasizing the urgent need for improved recovery strategies.  aBiodiversity  aEarthworms  aEnvironmental impact  aMining  aNatural regeneration  aTropical forests  aBiodiversidade  aFloresta Tropical  aImpacto Ambiental  aMineração  aMinhoca  aRegeneração Natural1 aOKI, Y.1 aSANTOS, M. P.1 aFIGUEIREDO, J. C. G.1 aHERNÁNDEZ-GARCÍA, L. M.1 aSOARES, F. A. A.1 aNADOLNY, H.1 aBROWN, G. G.1 aFERNANDES, G. W.  tBiological Invasionsgv. 27, n. 254, p. 1-19, 2025.