Abstract
Lampito mauriti is an Anecic earthworm living in the topsoil and it is geophytophagous in nature.This earthworm is an important soil macro fauna as it has the dual role of an ‘ecosystem engineer’ due to the ability to build burrows as well as ‘keystone species’ in soil food webs because of its function in degradationof organic wastes. The present study investigates the gut of this earthworm to find the most predominant bacterium harbored inside. Gut contents were extracted and streaked on bacteriological media. The predominant type of colony was identified based on size, pigmentation, form, margin and elevation. Thendifferent colonies were isolated and streaked separately to get pure colonies. The bacteria was subjected to several biochemical tests like Motility test, Gram staining, Methyl Red test, Voges-Proskauer test, Indole production test, Carbohydrate Fermentation test, Catalase test and Starch Hydrolysis test in order to identify the species. The bacterial species identification was done using Bergey’s manual. The bacterial isolates such as Micrococcus spp, Veillonella spp, Bacillus spp and Streptococcus spp were identified.
Highlights
IntroductionEarthworm (phylum-annelida, classoligochaeta)and comprise approximately 800 genera and 8000 species that account for upto 90% of invertebrate biomass present in soil [1]
Earthwormand comprise approximately 800 genera and 8000 species that account for upto 90% of invertebrate biomass present in soil [1]
The present study investigates the gut of this earthworm to find the most predominant bacterium harbored inside
Summary
Earthworm (phylum-annelida, classoligochaeta)and comprise approximately 800 genera and 8000 species that account for upto 90% of invertebrate biomass present in soil [1]. They are “key stone species” in soil food chain and “Ecosystem engineers" in maintaining the soil structure [2,3]. The Earthworm's gut plays a vital role in enriching the soil fertility. It is a tubular structure extending from mouth to the anus .It's different regions are the muscular pharynx, oesophagus, intestine and associative digestive glands. The micro organisms available in the gut of earthworm species are mostly related to the soil micro flora
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