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. 2020 Feb 8;29:105263. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105263

A dataset for the effect of earthworm abundance and functional group diversity on plant litter decay and soil organic carbon level

Wei Huang a,b, Grizelle González c, Xiaoming Zou a,b,
PMCID: PMC7033319  PMID: 32149168

Abstract

This paper describes data of earthworm abundance and functional group diversity regulate plant litter decay and soil organic carbon (SOC) level in global terrestrial ecosystems. The data also describes the potential effect of vegetation types, litter quality, litterbag mesh size, soil C/N, soil aggregate size, experimental types and length of experimental time on earthworm induced plant litter and SOC decay. The data were collected from 69 studies published between 1985 and 2018, covering 340 observations. This data article is related to the paper “Earthworm Abundance and Functional Group Diversity Regulate Plant Litter Decay and Soil Organic Carbon Level: A Global Meta-analysis” [1].

Keywords: Anecic worms, Endogeic worms, Epigeic worms, Forest floor mass, Litter decomposition, Soil carbon


Specifications Table

Subject Ecology, Soil Science
Specific subject area Earthworm ecology, litter decomposition, soil carbon
Type of data Table
How data were acquired Systematic review of the literature
Data format Raw
Parameters for data collection We used three different combinations of keywords: earthworm and litter decomposition; earthworm and forest floor; earthworm and soil carbon.
Description of data collection Data were collected from the ISI-Web of Science and Google Scholar.
Data source location 18 countries over five continents
Data accessibility With the article
Related research article Wei Huang, Grizelle Gonzalez, Xiaoming Zou, Earthworm Abundance and Functional Group Diversity Regulate Plant Litter Decay and Soil Organic Carbon Level: A Global Meta-analysis, Applied Soil Ecology, in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103473. [1]
Value of the Data
  • To date, no dataset has provided a comprehensive synthesis of existing experimental data about the effect of earthworms on litter decomposition and soil organic carbon (SOC) levels at global scale.

  • Data can be used to quantify the effect of earthworms on litter decomposition and SOC levels at global scale.

  • Data can be used to identify effects of earthworm functional group diversity, vegetation types, litter quality, litterbag mesh size, soil C/N, soil aggregate size, experiment types and length of experimental time on earthworm induced plant litter and SOC decay.

1. Data description

Data were extracted from peer-reviewed journal papers published between 1985 and 2018. Totally 340 observations from 69 studies were included. Detailed data are listed in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, giving the following information: location, ecosystem, earthworm density, annual litter decomposition rate, earthworm function group, the response ratio (R), mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, experimental type, experimental duration, litter quality, forest floormass thickness and carbon stock, soil carbon concentration, soil C/N, soil aggregate size, and literature reference.

Table 1.

Location, earthworm density, plant litter decomposition rate, and earthworm functional group in crop fields, tree plantations and forests worldwide for curve estimation.

Location Ecosystem Earthworm density (no./m2) Annual litter decomposition rate (y−1) Earthworm function group Reference
Georgia, USA Crop
Soy bean 176 1.67 Mixture [3]
Rye 176 1.45 Mixture
Queensland, Australia Sugarcane 199 1.88 Endogeic [4]
Plantation
Dublin, Ireland Salix 189 1.69 Mixture [5]
Carlshead, UK Short Rotation Forestry 152 0.91 Mixture [6]
Natural forest
Puerto Rico, USA Tabonuco (Upland) 45 1.47 Mixture [7]
Tabonuco (Riparian) 16 0.94 Mixture
Anduze, France Chestnut 86 1.50 Mixture [8,9]
86 0.55 Mixture
86 1.10 Mixture
86 0.64 Mixture
4 0.71 Anecic
4 0.56 Anecic
4 0.50 Anecic
4 0.37 Anecic
28 0.52 Mixture
28 0.52 Mixture
28 0.48 Mixture
28 0.25 Mixture
Skane, Sweden Beech 2.5 0.33 Epigeic [10]
39.8 0.60 Mixture
219.7 2.15 Mixture
Hawaii, USA Metrosiderus 21 0.37 Mixture [11,12]
Puerto Rico, USA Tabonuco (Control) 168.8 1.12 Mixture [13]
Tabonuco (Fertilization) 29.33 0.84 Endogeic
Subtropical lower montane rain forest (Control) 12 0.7 mixture
Subtropical lower montane rain forest (Fertilization) 19 1.49 Mixture
Ontario, Canada Sugar maple and American beech 67.675 0.39 Mixture [14]
Colorado, USA Aspen Forest 44.44 0.36 Mixture [15]
44.44 0.31 Mixture
Pine Forest 0.77 0.29 Epigeic
0.77 0.25 Epigeic
New York State, USA Sugar maple 79.6 1.05 Mixture [16]
26.5 0.51 Mixture
99.4 1.27 Mixture
26.1 0.6 Mixture
Oak 81.6 0.96 Mixture
26.4 0.53 Mixture
92.6 1.16 Mixture
21.5 0.63 Mixture

Table 2.

The location, biome, mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), experimental type, experimental duration, earthworm functional group, earthworm numbers, litter quality for observations about the effects of earthworm on litter decomposition in the meta-analysis.

Location Ecosystems MAT (oC) MAP (mm) Experimental type Experimental period (days) Earthworm functional group Litter type Litter C/N Litter bag mesh size (mm) Effect size References
Puerto Rico, USA Pasture 22–26 3500 Field 365 Endogeic Leaf 26 1 2.62 [17]
Pasture 22–26 3500 Field 365 Endogeic Root 101 1 1.10
Forest 20.8–24.5 3456 Field 365 Mixture Leaf 32 1 1.22
Forest 20.8–24.5 3456 Field 365 Mixture Root 101 1 1.12
Maryland, USA Forest (Tulip poplar Association-mature) Field 240 Mixture Leaf 10 2.29 [18]
Field 240 Mixture Leaf 1 1.12
Anduze, France Forest 11.9 1212 Field 760 Mixture Leaf 5 2.33 [8]
[9]
Field 760 Mixture Leaf 5 1.75
Field 760 Mixture Leaf 5 2.42
Field 760 Mixture Leaf 5 1.492
Chicago, USA Forest (Buckthorn) Field 365 Leaf 4 33.76 [19]
Field 365 Leaf 4 2.32
Field 365 Leaf 4 1.95
Field 365 Leaf 4 1.64
Forest (mesic) Field 365 Leaf 4 9.81
Field 365 Leaf 4 3.73
Field 365 Leaf 4 2.33
Field 365 Leaf 4 2.56
Forest (maple) Field 365 Leaf 4 2.79
Field 365 Leaf 4 0.77
Field 365 Leaf 4 1.73
Field 365 Leaf 4 0.94
Ibadan, Nigeria Crop Lab 56 Epigeic Leaf 10.1 2.53 [20]
Field 56 Epigeic Leaf 10.1 1.98
New York, USA Forest (Oak) 1000 Field 190 Mixture Leaf 10 0.98 [21]
Field 190 Mixture Leaf 10 1.077
Forest (Sugar maple) Field 190 Mixture Leaf 10 1.027
Field 190 Mixture Leaf 10 1.11
Forest (Oak) Field 340 Mixture Leaf 10 1.35
Field 340 Mixture Leaf 10 1.51
Forest (Sugar maple) Field 340 Mixture Leaf 10 2.58
Field 340 Mixture Leaf 10 1.53
Forest (Oak) Field 540 Mixture Leaf 10 1.68
Field 540 Mixture Leaf 10 2.41
Forest (Sugar maple) Field 540 Mixture Leaf 10 1.56
Field 540 Mixture Leaf 10 2.59
Guangdong, China Lab 126 Endogeic Leaf 0.93 [22]
Lab 126 Anecic Leaf 1.42
Baden Wurttemberg, Germany 14–22 Lab 63 Anecic Leaf 17.3 1 [23]
14–22 Lab 63 Anecic Leaf 17.3 1.91
14–22 Lab 63 Anecic Leaf 17.3 2.37
Amazonas, Brazil 24–31 Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 27 0.95 [24]
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 32 1.03
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 34 1.07
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 42 1.04
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 27 0.78
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 32 0.89
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 34 1.00
Lab 97 Endogeic Leaf 42 0.98
Tyrol, Austria 15 - 20 Lab 84 Endogeic Leaf 34.7 0.96 [25]
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 34.7 1.00
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 34.7 1.43
Lab 84 Mixture Leaf 34.7 1.02
Lab 84 Mixture Leaf 34.7 1.09
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 34.7 1.12
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 34.7 1.32
Lab 84 Endogeic Leaf 34.7 1.11
Lab 84 Endogeic Leaf 27.2 0.95
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 27.2 1.04
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 27.2 1.97
Lab 84 Mixture Leaf 27.2 1.02
Lab 84 Mixture Leaf 27.2 1.31
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 27.2 1.25
Lab 84 Epigeic Leaf 27.2 2.05
Lab 84 Endogeic Leaf 27.2 1.56
Wisconsin, USA Forest Field 123 Anecic Leaf 4.62 [26]
Minnesota, USA Temperate deciduous forest 18 Lab 42 Anecic Leaf 1.50 [27]
18 Lab 42 Epigeic Leaf 2.35
18 Lab 42 Mixture Leaf 2.80
Field 82 Anecic Leaf 1.06
Field 82 Epigeic Leaf 1.47
Field 82 Mixture Leaf 1.37
Tyrol, Austria 15 Lab 28 Epigeic Leaf 1.07 [28]
15 Lab 28 Epigeic Leaf 1.11
15 Lab 28 Epigeic Leaf 1.17
15 Lab 28 Epigeic Leaf 1.21
Bechstedt, Germany 15–20 Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 2.12 [29]
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 2.68
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 3.15
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 3.26
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 2.67
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 4.00
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 13.28
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 6.28
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.34
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.06
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 35.85
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 2.15
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 5.95
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.33
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 2.18
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 4.72
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 9.63
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.16
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.20
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.56
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 1.80
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 3.34
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 11.36
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 6.97
Lab 56 Anecic Leaf 12.36
Puerto Rico, USA Lab 22 Mixture Leaf 2.10 [30]
Hampshire, UK Short rotation forestry 11.2 630 Field 365 Mixture Leaf 32.5 2.26 [31]
Field 365 Mixture Leaf 39.5 1.51
Carlshead, UK Short rotation forestry 9 1000 Field 365 Mixture Leaf 39.5 5 5.28 [6]
Field 365 Mixture Leaf 52 5 8.15
Field 365 Mixture Leaf 33 5 12.44
Field 365 Mixture Leaf 32.5 5 10.41
Field 261 Mixture Leaf 18.2 5 17.56
Kaserstattalm, Austria 9–17 Lab 120 Epigeic Leaf 1.35 [32]
Lab 120 Epigeic Leaf 1.07
Lab 120 Epigeic Leaf 2.50
Gottingen, Germany 18 Lab 90 Epigeic Leaf 1.24 [33]

Table 3.

Location, earthworm density, and forest floormass thickness and carbon stock in forests worldwide for curve estimation.

Location Earthworm density (no./m2) Forest floormass
References
Thickness (cm) Carbon stock (g/m2)
Minnesota, USA 592.00 0.60 [34]
Minnesota, USA 821.47 1.14 [35]
Ontario, Canada 99.50 2.70 [36]
Alberta, Canada 622.72 4.19 [37]
181.59 3.66
108.14 3.57
136.42 3.49
162.75 2.64
214.18 1.01
196.08 0.97
623.02 0.20
458.67 0.12
661.73 0.04
Maryland, USA 212.00 1.00 116.00 [38]
Maryland, USA 38.00 6.25 [39]
Michigan, USA 9.10 895.60 [40]
247.80 316.20
New York State, USA 106.30 211.20 [41]
76.83 70.40
New York State, USA 150.00 196.34 [42]
89.20 295.39
Puerto Rico, USA 32.67 785.10 [43]
56.00 406.40
8.76 563.90
Jilin, China 780 1.0 [44]
336 2.5
153 2.0
52 1.5
Yunan, China 28.5 1.5 [45]
12.35 0.5
7.5 1

Table 4.

Location, earthworm density, and mineral soil carbon concentration in 12 sites of crop fields, pasture, and forests worldwide used for curve estimation.

Location Ecosystems Earthworm density (no./m2) Soil depth (cm) Soil organic C concentration (%) Earthworm functional group References
Ohio, USA Crop
Corn-soybean 17.9 0–10 16.1 Mixture [46]
10–20 12.4
20–30 12.3
30–40 8.8
Jiangsu, China Rice–wheat 30 0–20 8.04 Anecic [47]
9.09
Timiş, Romania Wheat-soybean-maize-barley 9.33 2.26 [48]
14.76 2.16
9.33 2.16
13.33 2.10
26.67 2.53
Tennessee, USA Rotation 0–15 [49]
Corn
-soybean
46.05 1.2 Mixture
Continuous Soybean 52.85 1.4 Mixture
Continuous Corn 40.5 1.0 Mixture
Bio-cover
Fallow 45.8 1.1 Mixture
Hair vetch 75.5 1.1 Mixture
Poultry litter 27.35 1.3 Mixture
Wheat 36.75 1.1 Mixture
Hawaii, USA Eucalypt 12 0–25 7.55 Endogeic [50]
151 8.52 Endogeic
154 8.80 Endogeic
398 9.86 Endogeic
Eifel, Germany Four crop rotation (rape, winter wheat, winter barley, and spring barley) 119.3 0–10 1.56 Mixture [51]
10–20 1.52
20–30 0.87
113.3 0–10 1.79 Mixture
10–20 1.22
20–30 0.75
160 0–10 1.94 Mixture
10–20 1.23
20–30 0.74
132.7 0–10 1.71 Mixture
10–20 1.14
20–30 0.68
157.3 0–10 1.75 Mixture
10–20 1.15
20–30 0.67
Karnataka, India Agricultural fields (rice, nuts, and banana) 485.14 0–30 4.94 Mixture [52]
KwaZuluNatal midlands, South Africa Ryegrass 158.82 0–10 3.74 Mixture [53]
Maize 49.27 3.12 Mixture
Sugarcane 25.74 2.56 Epigeic
Ryegrass 76.53 3.21 Mixture
Maize 45.79 2.68 Mixture
Sugarcane 164.69 3.06 Epigeic
Victoria, Australia Crop 21.00 0–7.5 0.93 [54]
46.00 0.94
50.00 0.96
Pasture
New Zealand 637 0–5 3.98 Mixture [55]
5–10 4.10
10–18 3.30
18–26 3.20
KwaZuluNatal midlands, South Africa Kikuyu grass 236.03 0–10 7.58 Mixture [53]
Native grassland 6.08 5.79
Kikuyu grass 303.34 8.07 Mixture
Forest
New York, USA Forest 106 0–5 5.75 Mixture [39,40]
5–10 2.63
10–15 1.65
15–20 1.43
76 0–5 6.97 Mixture
5–10 4.12
10–15 1.93
15–20 1.71
Honduras
Karnataka, India
Forest 37.89 0–15 3.59 Endogeic [56]
Forest 561.06 0–30 5.24 Mixture [52]
KwaZuluNatal midlands, South Africa Gum forest 60.29 0–10 3.53 Endogeic [53]
Pine forest 18.38 4.45 Mixture
Gum forest 60.97 5.62 Endogeic
Pine forest 19.91 5.51 Mixture
Hawaii, USA Eucalypt 173 0–25 8.90 Mixture [50]
147 9.43 Mixture

Table 5.

The location, biome, MAT, MAP, experimental type, earthworm functional group, earthworm number, soil depth, soil C/N and soil aggregate size for observations about the effects of earthworm on soil organic carbon levels in the meta-analysis.

Location Ecosystems MAT (oC) MAP (mm) Experimental type Earthworm functional group Soil depth (cm) Experimental period Soil C/N Soil aggregate size Effect size of soil organic carbon References
New York, USA Forest 900 Field Mixture 0 - 5 730 13.3 0.62 [41]
Mixture 5 - 10 730 11.6 0.81
Mixture 10 - 15 730 10.1 0.62
Mixture 15 - 20 730 10.0 0.65
Mixture 0 - 5 730 0.75
Mixture 5 - 10 730 1.27
Mixture 10 - 15 730 0.72
Mixture 15 - 20 730 0.78
New York, USA Forest 900 Field Mixture 0 - 5 730 0.86 [57]
Mixture 5 - 10 730 1.10
Mixture 10 - 15 730 0.62
Mixture 15 - 20 730 0.72
New Zealand Pasture 12.2 1050 Field Anecic 0 - 5 10950 0.82 [55]
5 - 10 10950 0.75
10 - 18 10950 0.58
18 - 26 10950 0.82
0 - 5 7300 0.98
5 - 10 7300 1.06
10 - 18 7300 1.05
18 - 26 7300 1.24
New York, USA Sugar maple 980 Field 0 - 3 18.73 1.34 [42]
3 - 6 17.53 1.14
6 - 9 16.80 1.08
9 - 12 15.84 0.96
0 - 3 13.59 1.17
3 - 6 11.83 0.99
6 - 9 11.59 1.05
9 - 12 11.18 0.95
Cumbria, UK 15 Lab 0 - 8 110 1.06 [58]
Tennessee, USA 20 Lab Endogeic 26 >250 2.05 [59]
Endogeic 26 53–250 0.78
Endogeic 26 <53 1.30
Epigeic 26 >250 3.60
Epigeic 26 53–250 0.96
Epigeic 26 <53 1.13
Ohio, USA Corn-soybean Field Mixture 0 - 10 1075 1.11 [46]
Mixture 10 - 20 1075 1.19
Mixture 20 - 30 1075 1.01
Mixture 30 - 40 1075 1.02
Jiangsu, China Rice–wheat 16 1106 Field Anecic 0 - 20 2555 8.30 1.02 [47]
2555 1.02
Quebec, Canada Hardwood forest 6.2 1058 Field 0–10 14.00 1.56 [60]
10–20 13.30 1.50
Xishuangbanna
, China
Rubber plantation 21.8 1493 Field Endogeic 0–5 600 11.80 0.94 [61]
5–15 600 11.80 1.05
0–5 600 11.80 0.72
5–15 600 11.80 1.45
Congo, Brail Savanna Endogeic 0–10 0.67 [62]
10–20 1.31
20–30 1.00
Georgia, USA Lab Endogeic 20 >2000 3.42 [63]
20 250–2000 0.52
Georgia, USA Lab Endogeic 20 >2000 3.12 [64]
20 250–2000 0.78
20 53–250 0.71
20 <53 0.61
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 18 Lab Epigeic 23 0.92 [65]
23 0.89
23 >2000 10.25
23 >2000 5.32
23 250–2000 0.59
23 250–2000 0.80
23 53–250 0.08
23 53–250 0.66
Trier, Germany 15 Lab Mixture 42 14.88 1.01 [66]
42 14.31 1.06
42 15.25 0.99
42 15.25 1.03
Georgia, USA Lab Endogeic 0–3.5 37 1.03 [67]
Epigeic 3.5–7 37 1.09
Endogeic 0–3.5 37 0.98
Epigeic 3.5–7 37 1.08
Alberta, Canada Lab Epigeic 1–4 28 1.03 [68]
1–4 56 0.89
1–4 84 0.96
1–4 28 0.73
1–4 56 0.89
1–4 84 0.70
4–7 28 0.94
4–7 56 0.90
4–7 84 1.00
4–7 28 0.79
4–7 56 1.00
4–7 84 0.68
>7 28 1.16
>7 56 1.29
>7 84 1.04
>7 28 1.60
>7 56 1.23
>7 84 1.94
Jilin, China 18 Lab 0–2.5 30 0.95 [69]
0–2.5 30 1.12
0–2.5 30 0.94
0–2.5 30 1.18
2.5–5 30 1.03
2.5–5 30 0.77
2.5–5 30 0.95
2.5–5 30 1.14
Hubei, China 25±2 Lab Anecic 40 0.96 [70]
40 0.77
40 <250 1.10
40 250–1000 0.79
40 1000–2000 1.21
40 >2000 1.19
Jinlin, China 20 Lab compost 18 13.04 1.04 [71]
18 13.04 1.15
18 13.04 1.04
35 14.09 1.12
35 14.09 1.10
35 14.09 1.08
Puerto Rico, USA Lab Anecic 22 0.98 [30]
Endogeic 22 1.01
Endogeic 22 0.94
Mixture 22 0.99
Mixture 22 0.97
Mixture 22 0.97
Mixture 22 0.97
Hanoi, Vietnam 15–25 Lab Endogeic 365 1.02 [72]
Endogeic 365 0.82
Endogeic 365 0.81

2. Experimental design, materials, and methods

A data set was compiled using literature search of peer-reviewed publications about the effects of earthworms on litter decomposition or SOC from the ISI-Web of Science and Google Scholar research database. We used three different combinations of keywords: earthworm and litter decomposition; earthworm and forest floor; earthworm and soil carbon. A total of 69 studies published between 1985 and 2018 were found (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5). An Engauge Digitizer (Free Software Foundation, Inc., Boston, MA, United States of America) was used to extract numerical values from figures in selected articles in which data were graphically presented.

For Table 1, we included studies that reported earthworm density and litter decomposition/decay rate; 40 observations from 13 studies were found. For Table 3, we included studies that reported earthworm density and forest floor thickness or carbon stock; 32 observations from 12 studies were found. For Table 4, we included studies that reported earthworm density and soil carbon content (%, g C/kg soil or mg C/g soil); 70 observations from 12 studies were found. For Table 1, Table 3, Table 4, we included studies that reflected earthworm density under field conditions (i.e. earthworms were not reduced or added), and plant litter from the vegetation currently under the experimental sites so that these observations can reflect the balance between earthworm density and turnover of plant litter, SOC under field conditions.

To be included in the meta-analysis, the paper had to report the means, standard deviation (SDs) and replicate numbers of litter percent mass loss or SOC for the control treatment (C, with no earthworms or reduced earthworm number) and the experimental treatment (E, with earthworms or earthworm number do not reduce). For studies that did not report SD or standard error (SE), we conservatively estimated SD values as 150% of the average variance across the dataset [2]. To evaluate the significance of the earthworm-induced effect on litter decomposition, 113 observations from 20 studies were found (Table 2). For the magnitude of the earthworm-induced effect on SOC content, 120 observations from 22 studies were found (Table 5). Because most of the studies do not report soil bulk density, we therefore converted SOC stocks with known bulk density (20 observations) to SOC concentrations. Besides earthworm functional groups, other details of experimental conditions were also specified in our analyses. We included studies that reported climate, vegetation types (naturally-grown forest, plantation, pastureland and crop), litter quality (litter C/N ratio and leaf versus root litter), litterbag mesh size, time length of experiment, soil depth, soil aggregate size, soil C/N ratio and experimental types (field versus laboratory). These parameters were the controlling factors that we considered for the earthworm effect on litter decay and SOC. The magnitude of the earthworm-induced effect on litter decay and SOC were calculated as the response ratio (R), R = E/C, where E and C are the means of experimental and control treatments, respectively.

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by a cooperative agreement between the USDA-Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry and the University of Puerto Rico [14-JV-11120101-018, 2015]. Grizelle González was supported by the Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory [EAR-1331841] and the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Site [DEB-1239764].

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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