A Comparative Study on Earthworm Biodiversity & Species Habitat-Relationship of Hilly and Plain Areas of Sirohi District of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Extensive surveys of earthworm diversity were done in different habitats of plain and hilly areas of Sirohi district of Rajasthan, India. Earthworms differed in their ecomorphological characteristics and relative abundances in different habitats. A total twelve species of earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus, Amynthas morrisi, Lampito mauritii, Metaphire posthuma, Megascolex konkanensis, Metaphire houlleti, Perionyx sansibaricus, Polypheretima elongata, Ocnerodrilus occidentalis, Dichogaster bolaui, Octochaetona beatrix and Gordiodrilus sp. were recorded from hilly and plain areas. Among these, ten species were found from plain area and nine from hilly area. Five earthworm species (M. konkanensis, M. houlleti, P. elongata, O. beatrix, Gordiodrilus sp.) were recorded for the first-time from Rajasthan. The plain area species P. elongata, O. beatrix and Gordiodrilus sp. were replaced by M. konkanensis and M. houlleti in hilly region. This showed the habitat preferences of earthworm species. Few species were present in a particular habitat of plain area, but they were absent in the same type of habitat in hilly area. The relative density, frequency and species diversity index of earthworm species differed in different habitats and areas. Earthworm diversity exhibited differing species-habitat relationship in hilly and plain areas. These findings may be utilized for eco-restoration of degraded land in similar habitats.