Abstract
A recent survey in selected habitat types in Queen Elizabeth Park (protected area for more than 50 years) resulted in the recording of 1127 specimens of nine earthworm species inhabiting the park, of which only one microchaetid Tritogenia howickiana is indigenous to South Africa. The other eight species are peregrine, widely introduced, and belong to four families: Megascolecidae (Amynthas aeruginosus, Amynthas corticis, Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas minimus and Amynthas rodericensis), Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Lumbricidae (Octolasion lacteum) and Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiinae (Dichogaster saliens). The most abundant are megascolecids (883 specimens), dominating in all vegetation types. Although coexistence of exotic species with indigenous species is noted, a decline in the endemics and dominance by exotics was observed.
Highlights
It is widely known and accepted that earthworms are supportive environmental components and play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems (Lavelle et al 1997; Bhadauria et al 2000; Shuster et al 2002), being regarded as soil ecosystem engineers (Jouquet et al 2006)
The quality and amount of above and below ground litter produced by plants influence earthworm populations and this may be observed in some forests and native grasslands (Campana et al 2002; Whalen 2004)
Due to their relationship to soil ecosystem function, earthworm populations depict spatial and temporal heterogeneity in patches and their population structure may be influenced by a change in vegetation and soil characteristics, as well as biotic and abiotic interactions (Margerie et al 2001; Whalen 2004; Fey 2010; Valckx et al 2011)
Summary
It is widely known and accepted that earthworms are supportive environmental components and play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems (Lavelle et al 1997; Bhadauria et al 2000; Shuster et al 2002), being regarded as soil ecosystem engineers (Jouquet et al 2006). The quality and amount of above and below ground litter produced by plants influence earthworm populations and this may be observed in some forests and native grasslands (Campana et al 2002; Whalen 2004). Due to their relationship to soil ecosystem function, earthworm populations depict spatial and temporal heterogeneity in patches and their population structure may be influenced by a change in vegetation and soil characteristics, as well as biotic and abiotic interactions (Margerie et al 2001; Whalen 2004; Fey 2010; Valckx et al 2011). From one vegetation type to the other, earthworm species composition may change (Margerie et al 2001)
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