Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:51:25.645Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Population dynamics of earthworms and their activity in forest ecosystems of North-east India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Tuneera Bhadauria  and
P. S. Ramakrishnan
Tuneera Bhadauria
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
P. S. Ramakrishnan
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A comparative analysis of earthworm populations in seral Khasi pine forest represented by Pinus kesiya 5- and 35-year old stands, and a climax broad-leaved mixed forest represented by a sacred grove was done at altitudes of 1500 m in Meghalaya in north-east India. Tonoscolax horaii occurred under all forest types whereas Amynthas diffringens and Eulyphoeus feslivus were confined to pine forest stands only. Perionyx sp. and Drawida assamensis were restricted to the sacred grove. T. horaii had larger numbers in all three different forest types. This species offers possibilities of vermicullurc for biologically improving soil fertility in manmade ecosystems because of its wide range of tolerance.

Generally earthworm populations were more active during the monsoon season; A. diffringens was however, more active during the winter, thereby conferring an advantage on this species as it was enabled to avoid competition during the monsoon season when other species dominate. Earthworm activity was generally higher in the sacred grove than in the pine forest stands. Population size was significantly correlated with soil moisture, temperature and pH. Wormcasts had a higher pH and nutrient status than the soil.

In the highly leached soils of the humid tropics where there is a large concentration of fine root biomass in the surface soil layers, earthworm activity is beneficial because it helps incorporate detritus into the mineral soil rapidly and locally concentrates nutrients in the surface layers.

Keywords

Annelidaearthwormsforest ecosystemsIndianutrient cyclingPinussacred groves
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , August 1991 , pp. 305 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Allen, S. E., Grimshaw, H. M., Parkinson, J. A. & Quarmby, C. 1974. Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.Google Scholar
Bhadauria, T. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1989. Earthworm population dynamics and contribution to nutrient cycling during cropping and fallow phases of shifting agriculture in north-east India. Journal of Applied Ecology 26:505–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boojh, R. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1983. Sacred groves and their role in environmental conservation. Strategies for Environmental Management - Souvenir, Volume, Department of Science & Environment, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India.Google Scholar
Bouche, M. 1977. Strategies lombriciennes. Ecological Bulletin (Stockholm) 25:122–132.Google Scholar
Curtis, J. T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin: An ordination of plant communities. University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
Dash, A. K. & Patra, U. G. 1977. Density, biomass and energy budget of a tropical earthworm population from a grassland site in Orissa, India. Revuew D'Ecologie Et De Biologie Du Sol 14:461–471.Google Scholar
Das, A. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1985. Litter dynamics in Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya Royle Ex Gorden) of north-eastern India. Forest Ecology and Management 10:135–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, A. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1987. Above ground biomass and nutrient contents in an age series of Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya). Forest Ecology and Management 18:61–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, C. A. 1983. Earthworm ecology in cultivated soils. Pp. 123–136 in Satchell, J. E. (ed.). Earthworm ecology from Darwin to vermiculture. Chapman & Hall, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, C. A. & Lofty, J. R. 1972. Biology of Earthworms Chapman & Hall, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerard, B. M. 1960. The biology of certain British earthworms in relation to environmental conditions. Ph.D. thesis, London.Google Scholar
Jakoby, W. B. & Bhatt, J. V. 1958. Microbial metabolism of oxalic acid. Bacteriological Revue 22:75–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khiewtam, R. 1986. Ecosystem function of protected forests of Cherrapunji and adjoining areas. Ph.D. thesis, North-Eastern Hill University, India.Google Scholar
Krishnamoorthy, R. V. 1985. Nitrogen contribution by earthworm populations from grassland and woodland, sites near Bangalore, India. Revuew d'Ecologie Et De Biologic Du Sol 22:463–472.Google Scholar
Lee, K. E. 1985. Earthworms: their ecology and relationships with soils and land use. Academic Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Mishra, B. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1983. Secondary succession subsequent to slash and bum agriculture at higher elevations of north-east India. I. Species diversity, biomass and litter production. Acta Oecologica/Oecologica Applicata 4:95–107.Google Scholar
Mishra, B. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1983. Slash and burn agriculture at higher elevation in northeastern India II. Soil fertility changes. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environments 9:83–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nye, P. H. 1955. Some soil forming processes in the humid tropics, IV. The action of soil fauna. Journal of Soil Science 6:78–84.Google Scholar
Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1985. Research On Humid Tropical Forests. Regional Meeting of the National MAB Committees of Central and South Asian Countries, 16–28 March, New Delhi, India.Google Scholar
Satchell, J. E. 1983. Earthworm Ecology in Forest Soils. In Satchell, J. E. (ed.). Earthworm ecology from Darwin to vermiculture. Chapman & Hall, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharpley, A. N. & Syers, J. K. 1976. Potential role of earthworm casts for the phosphorus enrichment of run off water. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 8:341–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Syers, J. K. & Springett, T. A. 1984. Earthworms and Soil Fertility. Plant and Soil 76:93–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallwork, J. E. 1983. Earthworm Biology. Edward Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Zajonc, I. 1971. Synusia Analysis of Earthworms. (Lumbricidae oligochaeta) in the Oak Hornbeam forest in Soulh-West Slovakia. In Duvigneaull, P. (ed.). Productivity of Forest Ecosystems. UNESCO, Paris.Google Scholar