Earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumdricidae) in the Komi Republic

Abstract

The article presents information about 11 species in 8 genera of earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in the Komi Republic. They belong to three morpho-ecological groups inhabiting different soil horizons (litter, litter/soil, soil). The species distribution maps have been compiled. The density of each species and their habitat affiliations in different flatland subzones and altitudinal zones of the Ural Mountains are shown. The number of species tends to decline in a regular manner from southern taiga to shrub tundra, from the Northern to Polar Urals. Boreal zone soils are inhabited by members of the genera Aporrectodea, Dendrobaena, Bimastos, Eisenia, Eiseniella, Lumbricus, Octolasion. Four species: Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. rosea, Eisenia fetida, and Octolasion lacteum, prefer meadows and farmlands. The species Bimastos rubidus and Eiseniella tetraedra inhabit meadows, willow carrs and forests in southern and middle taiga; they are absent in the extremely northern taiga and forest tundra; their habitats in the tundra zone are hydrogen sulfide springs. Three species (Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia nordenskioldi, Lumbricus rubellus) have been found in all natural zones and subzones. They compose the Lumbricidae fauna in the tundra zone. Northern Urals harbored the same earthworm species as the boreal zone. Two more species, Rhiphaeodrilus diplotetrathecus and Eisenia atlavinyteae, are representatives of the montane Urals Lumbricidae complex. Five species: R. diplotetrathecus, D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus, and O. lacteum, are known for the Subpolar Urals. The species D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus have been detected in the Polar Urals as in the tundra zone. The altitudinal distribution of earthworms in the Urals is characterized by the presence of ‘soil’ species in the montane forest zone and a decline in the species diversity in the subalpine and alpine tundra zones, mostly at the expense of the litter/soil group