Restoration of Earthworms Community (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) at Sand Quarries (Smolensk Oblast, Russia)

Abstract

The earthworm community formation studies have been carried out during the primary succession at the sand quarries formed during the sand mining. It has been established that the earthworm colonization during the 7 – 50 years sand quarry overgrowth is slow and the species composition is not fully restored therewith. The quarries are mainly occupied with the endogeic species. The results of the experiment on the introduction of the species of earthworms of different morpho-ecological groups have been described for the quarries at different stages of restoration. It has been established that the endogeic species colonization is advisable at the initial stages of the quarry overgrowth and the epi-endogeic, epigeic and anecic species colonization – at the later stages.