Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate abundance, biomass and diversity of earthworms in the southern coast region of the Mata Atlântica biodiversity hotspot. A total of 51 study sites in pastures, banana monocultures, mixed agroforestry systems, secondary forests in succession and old-growth forests near the coast of Paraná, Brazil, were evaluated. Each site was sampled once. Species richness of the earthworms was generally low and varied little between sites. At all sites except for one, the peregrine species Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) strongly dominated. Three other peregrine species, Amynthas corticis, Amynthas gracilis (Megascolecidae) and Ocnerodrilus occidentalis (Ocnerodrilidae), were frequent in moist sites. No autochthonous species were found. Abundance and biomass of earthworms varied strongly within and between sites (0-338 individuals m-2, 0-96 g m-2 fresh weight). Pastures had significantly lower abundance than all other sites. The forest sites had similar earthworm abundance and biomass, with a tendency to be higher in younger succession stages. The coastal plain region has been strongly altered by human activities. Reasons for the lack of any autochthonous species and the dominance of one peregrine species require further investigation.
Highlights
Earthworms are a dominant group of soil animals in the humid and subhumid tropics (Fragoso et al, 1999)
The coastal Mata Atlântica of Paraná state, in Brazil, presents a depleted earthworm fauna in terms of species richness and diversity, while abundance and biomass values observed in this region reconfirm the importance of earthworms for the functioning of the ecosystems
Endemic species expected for the Atlantic Forest have been replaced by the peregrine invasive species Pontoscolex corethrurus, or by South-Eastern Asian Amynthas spp. exotic species
Summary
Earthworms are a dominant group of soil animals in the humid and subhumid tropics (Fragoso et al, 1999). Research on this topic increased, in Brazil (González, 2006; Brown & Fragoso, 2007), resulting in major compilations of earthworm diversity (Brown & Fragoso, 2007), assessments of earthworms role in agricultural systems and in secondary and primary forests, the identification of impacts of different land uses on earthworm populations and diversity, and their role as bioindicators These questions have been partly addressed in several parts of Brazil (Lavelle & Lapied, 2003), knowledge on the earthworm fauna of the second largest forest biome in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) – worldwide recognized as a hotspot of biodiversity – is still scarce. The objectives of this study were to: assess the diversity and structure of earthworm assemblages, in the southern Mata Atlântica; evaluate how the earthworm fauna recovers during forest regeneration from pastures; and assess which site properties determine the abundance, biomass and diversity of the earthworm fauna
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
