Diversity and Distribution of Earthworms in Different Soil Habitats of Assam, North-East India, an Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

Species diversity and distribution of earthworms was carried out in different soil habitat conditions of Assam, north-east India, a part of Indo-Burma mega biodiversity hotspot. Seventeen species belonging to six different families namely Moniligastridae, Megascolecidae, Almidae, Glossocolecidae, Lumbricidae, Ocnerodrilidae were recorded from the study locations. The population density and biomass of the worm species ranged from 65–238 m−2 and 1.1–5.4 g m−2 across different sampling habitats. Relative occurrence of earthworm species varied according to soil habitat conditions. Amynthas diffringens, Perionyx excavates, Glyphidrilus gangeticus, Lampito mauritii were dominant species under agricultural land use system while Metaphire posthuma, Dichogaster saliens were the dominant species under open grass land and mixed forest system. The present investigation is the first report on diversity and distribution of earthworm species collected from different soil habitats of Assam, north-east India.