To make it simple, I am looking for a study which has followed the monthly variations of earthworm abundance and biomass over a year.
I need to present a clear chart to farmers to illustrate the dynamics of an earthworm population in a pasture and/or a cultivated field (not a forest).
Simply put, that would be a graph with the months on the X axis, and earthworm abundances and biomasses on the Y axis.
Having the corresponding temperature and rainfall records would be an excellent complementary information.
I am working with european farmers, so having data from a temperate climate would be great.
I found this kind of data coming from New zealand, Africa, and even Himalayas, but impossible to find it for Europe.
If you know studies which also investigate the changes over several years, that would be fantastic.
Thanks !
Interesting question...
Abstract: Earthworm population dynamics was studied in a cultivated soil at Shantipuri(29o 55′ N and 79o 40′ E, altitude 233 m) in central Himalayan tarai. A total of 2111 earthworms from 235 samples were collected. Six species of earthworms were found: one Lumbricidae, and five Megascolecidae. Densities ranged from 0 to 19.0 ind. m-2 and biomass from 0 to 10.9 g m-2. About 94% of the total earthworms and 94% of the total biomass were found in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Age structure of earthworms indicated that clitellates were more abundant than aclitellates during the wet periods (June-October). The average annual ratio of clitellates to aclitellates was 1:0.8. Earthworm density showed positive correlations between soil moisture and worm biomass.Source ; Tropical Ecology 44(2): 229-234, 2003,PDF enclosed for further reading..
Thank you,
Indeed I found one of the references you kindly provided. It gives exactly what I am looking for, except the fact that it is in central Himalayan tarai.
I will have a look at the other article.
I have found a paper though, but unfortunately it doesn't cover the whole year (not the "coldest" european months, January and February).
(and sorry it is in French only)
Here are you a nice early paper with detailed data from Hungary. However, in German. But you can understand the tables with a little google-translate help.
Population dynamics of the earthworm Amynthas alexandri (Annelida: Megascolecidae) in a Kumaun Himalayan pasture soil (Kaushal, B.R. & Bisht, S.P.S. Biol Fert Soils (1994) 17: 9. doi:10.1007/BF00418664)
Abstract: Ecological studies on earthworms were conducted in a Kumaun Himalayan pasture soil. The C:N ratio in the soil declined with increasing depth. A combination of hand-sorting and formalin application was used to sample the earthworms. Three species, Amynthas alexandri, A. diffringens (Megascolecidae), and Eisenia fetida (Lumbricidae) were found. Of the 13310 individuals collected, 99.9% were A. alexandri. The maximum density (138.8 m-2) and biomass (25.2 g m-2) were recorded in the wet season. More than 60% of the total earthworm numbers and biomass were recorded at 0–10 cm in depth. The mean yearly ratio of clitellate to aclitellate worms was 1:7.3.
Another PDF enclosed entitled as The Role of Earthworms in Tropics with
Emphasis on Indian Ecosystems
This paper from Ireland, comparing two wheat cropping systems over 3 years, could be relevant for French conditions.
Hi Thomas,
Article Effect of tillage on earthworms over short- and medium-term ...
Our work from The Netherlands might be useful too.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Correction