Responses of Earthworms to Organic Matter at Different Stages of Decomposition

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the responses of earthworms to soil organic matter and litter at different decomposition stages and their contributions in litter decomposition processes in southern subtropical areas of China. Two plantations were selected as the study sites: Site I was dominated by the exotic endogeic earthworm species Ocnerodrilus occidentalis; Site II was dominated by epigeic species Amynthas corticis. After the fallen litter and earthworms were removed or expelled, four treatments were set up as: reserving the top soil (0–5 cm, equal to H layer) (H), removing the top soil and adding fresh litter (Le), removing the top soil and adding semi-decomposed litter (Li), and a control with no top soil nor any litter (CK). Five randomized blocks that were enclosed with nylon nets on the top were set up in each site, and then the four treatments were arranged randomly in each block. After 2–3 months, earthworms were collected using the formalin method. The results showed that Ocnerodrilus occidentalis preferred Treatment H though it was found in Treatments Le and Li as well; Amynthas corticis preferred Treatment Li though sometimes it also appeared in Treatment H; and Amynthas sp., another epigeic species, was mainly present under Treatment Le and only appeared in Treatment H occasionally. These findings confirmed that earthworm species belonging to different ecological groups had different responses to organic matter at different decomposition stages. The impacts of earthworm communities dominated by O. occidentalis mainly appeared at the later periods of litter decomposition.