Hand Sorting Method Research Articles

Keanekaragaman Semut (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) di Beberapa Tegakan di Taman Hutan Raya Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin Jambi

Biodiversity can act as an indicator of the ecological system and as a medium for knowing species changes. Insects are living things in a world that has a high species diversity. One insect that has a functional role in the ecosystem is ants. The purpose of this study was to calculate and analyze diversity of the types of ants in four types of ecosystems and analyze the effect of habitat characteristics on the abundance of ants. Ant sampling using the hand sorting method was taken from the soil and litter parts in four ecosystems, namely secondary forest, ulin stands, oil palm plantations, and rubber stands in Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin Forest Park Batanghari District, Jambi Province. The results showed a total of 940 ants were obtained, from 296 individuals in Secondary Forest, 198 individuals in oil palm plantations, 307 individuals in ulin stand, 139 individuals in rubber stand. Ants are more commonly found in parts of the soil than litter. The highest ant diversity in the soil and litter is found in secondary forest. Environmental factors that influence the presence of ants in each ecosystem are soil temperature and thickness of litter.
 Keywords: ants, biodiversity, ecosystems, hand sorting, tahura.

Integrated farming system of cattle and oil palm plantation increasing population and diversity of soil fauna in Ultisols soils

Integrated farming system is an agricultural practice that must be done for sustainable agriculture. The objectives of the research were to compare the population and diversity of soil meso fauna in the oil palm plantations applying with integrated farming system of cattle and oil palm plantation (IFSCO) and without IFSCO (non-IFSCO) in Ultisols soil. The research was conducted in two oil palm plantations, i.e. oil palm plantation with IFSCO (5 ha) and without IFSCO (non-IFSCO) (5 ha) applications which were located in the Karya Makmur Village, Tulang Bawang District, Lampung, Indonesia. The research was arranged using surveys and with systematic methods for sampling soil, earthworm, and mesofauna. Population of earthworm and soil mesofauna were enumerated by hand sorting methods and trapped with Barlese-Tullgreen funnel, respectively. The results showed that the application of IFSCO had a higher population and biomass of earthworm as well as abundance and diversity of soil mesofauna than that non-IFSCO. There are two types of dominant earthworms and 12 species of mesofauna in IFSCO soil, and 9 species in that of non-IFSCO. Several physical and chemical properties of soils are positively correlated with the presence of these soil fauna.

Earthworm population dynamics in traditional slash and burn cultivation in Mizoram, Northeast India

Aim: This paper describes the influence of traditional slash and burn (shifting) cultivation on earthworm population structure and species diversity. Methodology: The study was conducted in a tropical hilly terrain natural forest in northeast India. The first year was taken as pre–cultivation phase. During second-year traditional slash and burn cultivation was carried out with rice (Oryza sativa) as the main crop, where local weeding practice using had hoe was done thrice. The land was left fallow in the third year. Earthworms were sampled from five random quadrats at monthly interval by digging and hand sorting method. Results: Nine species of earthworms belonging to three families were identified, out of which three epigeic species (P. excavatus, P. macintoshi and A. alexandri) were not recorded during the cultivation phase. There was a significant (p<.05) reduction in earthworm density during the cultivation phase. M. houletti was the most dominant species in terms of density, while D. nepalensis was the most versatile in seasonal distribution. Shannon Index of diversity was lowest in the cultivation phase (H ̅=0.84, 1-D=0.46) as compared to pre-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.76) and post-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.77). Interpretation: The reason for negative effect of traditional slash and burn cultivation on earthworm population density and diversity could be due to multiple weeding practices resulting in the disturbance of surface soil that directly or indirectly affects earthworms. Key words: Earthworms, Epigeic species, Mizoram, Slash and burn cultivation, Soil, Weeding

Soil Macrofauna as Bioindicator on Aek Loba Palm Oil Plantation Land

Oil palm plantations of PT. Socfin Indonesia (Socfindo) Aek Loba area has been planted with oil palm since 1931, currently has plants from generation I (± 31 years), II (± 47 years), III (± 74 years), and IV (± 86 years) . The difference in the length of time of utilization and management of plantation land in each generation also determines the presence, both species, density, relative density, and the frequency of the presence of soil macrofauna. Soil macrofauna plays a role in maintaining the balance of the soil ecosystem. This research has been conducted at PT. Socfindo Kebun Aek Loba in February 2017- April 2018. This research was conducted to determine the presence of soil macrofauna on oil palm plantation land of PT. Socfin Indonesia (Socfindo) Aek Loba plantation area. Determination of the sampling point is done by the Purposive Random Sampling method, soil macrofauna sampling using the Quadratic and Hand Sorting methods. There are 29 species of soil macrofauna which are grouped into 2 phyla, 3 classes, 11 orders, 21 families, and 27 genera. The highest density value is in the Generation II area of 401.53 ind / m 2 and the lowest density value is in the Generation IV area of 101.59 ind / m 2 . Frequency The presence of soil macrofauna in the four generations consists of 4 species, namely Pontoscolex corethrurus , Geophilus flavus , Vostax apicedentatus , and Solenopsis fugax .

Monitoring of The Palm Oil Plantation Ecosystem Based on Land Macrofauna Diversity

Oil palm plantations of PT. Supra Matra Abadi has used palm oil mill effluent to the plantation area as fertilizer (Land Application) to part of its plantation area. The difference in land use and management in the plantation area also determines the presence, both species, density, diversity index value, and soil macrofauna uniformity index. Soil macrofauna plays a role in maintaining the balance of the soil ecosystem. This research has been conducted at PT. Supra Matra Abadi, located in Kebun Panji Bay, Kampung Rakyat District, Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency, North Sumatra Province in May-July 2018. This research was conducted to determine the presence of species, population density, diversity index values, and uniformity of soil macrofauna on oil palm plantations. Determination of the sampling point is done by the Purposive Random Sampling method, soil macrofauna sampling using the Quadratic and Hand Sorting methods. There are 15 species of soil macrofauna which are grouped into 2 phyla, 5 classes, 9 orders, 12 families, and 15 genera. The highest density value was found in the area of plantations that were not given liquid palm oil mill effluent as fertilizer (Non Land Application) of 282.15 ind / m2 and the highest diversity index value was found in the area of oil palm plantations which were fertilized with palm oil mill liquid waste to land area (Land Application) which shows that the condition of the oil palm plantation ecosystem which is fertilized with palm oil mill effluent (Land Application) can support the life, diversity, and uniformity of soil macrofauna.

Keanekaragaman dan Kelimpahan Makrofauna Tanah pada Tiga Tegakan Berbeda di Hutan Pendidikan Gunung Walat

Soil macrofauna is an important factor in studying the biological soil quality. The activity of soil macrofauna affects the soil properties and condition. The objective of this study was to identify the soil macrofauna and analyze the diversity, evenness, and richness index of soil macrofauna on some sites at educational forest of gunung Walat. The macrofauna was collected using hand sorting method on 40x40 cm plots in 10 cm depth of soil and 3-5 cm thick of forest litters at Agathis, Pinus, and Puspa trees. The identification result showed that a total 641 individuals were found under Agathis, Pinus, and Puspa trees. The Pinus trees showed the highest frequency of soil macrofauna (377 individu). The Agathis trees showed the highest value of diversity index, that was H’=2.38, DMg=4.12, and E=0.78.
 Keywords: abundance, diversity, soil macrofauna, hand sorting method, Gunung Walat

KEANEKARAGAMAN MAKROFAUNA TANAH DI LAHAN BEKAS TERBAKAR DAN TIDAK TERBAKAR DI HUTAN LARANGAN ADAT RUMBIO

Soil macrofauna is a part of soil biodiversity that plays an important role in the improvement soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Fires that occur will affect the activity and presence of soil macrofauna which helps the decomposition process of organic materials such as providing better environmental facilities (Micro Habitat). This research aims to know species diversity and population density of soil macrofauna on burned and unburned land in The Rumbio Customary Forest. The research was carried out in The Rumbio Customary Forest and the Soil Laboratory Faculty of Agriculture University of Riau. The sampling of soil macrofauana was carried out on burned and unburned land in The Rumbio Customary Forest and also for measurement of soil physical-chemical factors. The research used the hand sorting method. This research showed that the population density of soil macrofauna on unburned land is higher if compared to burned land

Earthworm Communities in Paddy (Oryza sativa) Fields of West Tripura (India)

Paddy is one of the most important food crops in India. In Tripura of north east India, paddy covers 78–90% of cultivable areas with hydromorphic clay-rich acidic soils. As earthworms have important role in above-ground crop production, the present study deals with the earthworm communities in the soils of wet land paddy agro-ecosystem of West Tripura (India). The study was conducted during May 2015 to August 2017. Earthworms were collected from the paddy fields by TBSF monolith (25 × 25 × 30 cm) digging and hand sorting method. Temperature, moisture, pH and organic matters were estimated from 0 to 15 cm depth soils. Biological parameters such as density, biomass, relative abundance and ecological parameters such as indices of diversity, dominance etc. were measured. A total of 7 earthworm species belonging to 4 families and 5 genera were recorded: [Almidae Glyphidrilus sp. (near to gangeticus)], Moniligastridae (Drawida assamensis, Drawida papillifer papillifer and Drawida sp.), Megascolecidae (Metaphire houlleti, Perionyx excavatus) and Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus). The average density and biomass of earthworms in the paddy plantations were 163 ind. m−2 and 56 g m−2 respectively. Diversity and dominance indices of earthworms of paddy plantations were 0.46 and 0.60 respectively. Glyphidrilus sp. contributed more than 50% biomass and density of earthworm community and probably had a great role in paddy production due to enormous deposition of casts (‘cast hills’) in the rhizosphere zone of paddy plants.

Earthworm Diversity in Laterite and Regur Soil of Deccan Trap of Hyderabad–Karnataka Region, Karnataka, India

Earthworm survey was conducted across Bidar district that contains solidified lava and forms the part of Deccan trap of Hyderabad–Karnataka Region. Earthworm samples along with their habitat soil were collected by digging and hand sorting method from the selected spots like gutter, garbage, near bore well, near tap, garden, pasture, drainage system and fields. Ten different species of earthworms were identified viz., Eudrilus eugeniae of the family EUDRILIDAE; Lampito mauritii and Perionyx sansibaricus of the family MEGASCOLECIDAE; Dichogaster bolaui, D. modiglianii, Eudichogaster ashworthi, E. prashadi, E. poonensis, Octochaetona beatrix and O. paliensis of the family OCTOCHAETIDAE. Among these the genus Eudichogaster is found to be the most dominant and widely distributed earthworm in Bidar district. Eudichogaster poonensis is reported for the first time from South India. Soil chemical characteristics of their habitat were pH 6.7–8, electrical conductivity (EC) 0.28–1.16 mohs/cm, organic carbon (OC) 0.75–3.54%, nitrogen (N) 25.2–118 kg/acre, phosphorous (P) 6.6–48.8 kg/acre and potassium (K) 79–354 kg/acre. Earthworms inhabiting in the laterite soil showed wider range in the soil chemical characteristics, pH ranged from slightly acidic to alkaline; whereas earthworms inhabiting in regur soil of this region showed narrow range in the soil chemical characteristics.

No impact of transgenic cry1Ie maize on the diversity, abundance and composition of soil fauna in a 2-year field trial

Soil fauna play an essential role in the soil ecosystem, but they may be influenced by insecticidal Cry proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize. In this study, a 2-year field trial was conducted to study the effects of transgenic cry1Ie maize, a type of Bt maize (Event IE09S034), on soil fauna, with the near-isogenic line non-Bt maize (Zong 31) as a control. The soil animals were collected with Macfadyen heat extractor and hand-sorting methods, respectively, and their diversity, abundance and community composition were calculated. Then, the effects of maize type, year, sampling time and soil environmental factors on the soil fauna were evaluated by repeated-measures ANOVA, redundancy analysis (RDA) and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (nMDS). Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the diversity and abundance of the soil fauna were not affected by maize type, while they were significantly influenced by year and sampling time. Furthermore, for both the Macfadyen and hand-sorting methods, RDA indicated that soil fauna community composition was not correlated with maize type (Bt and non-Bt maize) but was significantly correlated with year, sampling time and root biomass. In addition, it was significantly related to soil pH according to the hand-sorting method. nMDS indicated that soil fauna community composition was significantly correlated with year and sampling time; however, it was not associated with maize type. In this study, we collected soil faunal samples according to the Macfadyen and hand-sorting methods and processed the obtained data with ANOVA, RDA, and nMDS in three ways, and our data indicate that transgenic cry1Ie maize (Event IE09S034) had no substantial influence on the diversity, abundance or community composition of the soil fauna.

Soil macrofauna in Oil palm plantation of Sei Liput

Oil palm plantation of PT. Socfindo within area of Sei Liput has been planting oil palm since 1909, with recent status consisted of generation V (± 108 years), IV (± 92 years), III (± 49 years) and II (± 32 years). The different interval of utilization and management of plantation in each generation determine both the species, density, relative density and presence frequency of soil macrofauna. Soil macrofauna are known to maintain the balance of soil ecosystem. The study was conducted at Sei Liput oil palm plantation area on February 2017 until April 2018. Determination of sampling points used purpossive random sampling while sampling of soil macrofauna using quadratic and hand sorting methods. The study found 25 species of soil macrofauna grouped into 2 phyla, 6 classes, 12 orders, 20 families and 25 species. The highest density value in the Generation II plantation area was 217.46 ind / m2 and the lowest density value in the Generation III garden area was 125.38 ind / m2. The three most frequent species of soil macrofauna in the four generations plantations were Pontoscolex corethrurus, Odontoponera denticulata, and Vostax apicedentatus.

Policy advocation: the potential role of independent smallholding oil palm plantation in biodiversity conservation

Despite the frequent reports of large-scale oil palm plantations’ lack of attention to biodiversity conservation, there is a paucity of reporting on smallholding plantation contributions in this regard. Yet, vegetation heterogeneity supports richer biodiversity, and this is a characteristic of independent smallholdings. This paper discusses the potential role of independent smallholding oil palm plantations in biodiversity conservation with respect to butterfly and earthworms. Data were collected on four large-scale and four smallholding plantations in the Districts of Kampar, Pelalawan, Kuantan, Singingi and Siak of Riau Province, using a time-survey method for butterflies and hand-sorting method for earthworms. The research also used direct interview with oil palm owners and community members to assess the environmental value of independent smallholdings. Results showed that independent smallholdings were considered to be ecologically-friendly, where most have been shown to support higher species richness of butterfly and higher density of earthworms, than large-scale plantations, due to the irregular maintenance practices, as well as proximity to secondary forest and rubber plantations. It can be concluded that the informed management of independent smallholding oil palm plantations could effectively support biodiversity conservation.

Earthworm population under different soil tillage and herbicide application at integrated field laboratory agriculture faculty, University of Lampung

This study were aimed to determine the effect of soil tillage and herbicide on earthworm populations. The experiment was designed by using completely randomize block design with two factors, i.e.; soil tillage systems consists of full tillage (T1) and minimum tillage (T0) and herbicide application (H) consists of herbicide (H1) and non-herbicide (H0). Herbicides with isopropylamine glyphosate + 2.4D active ingredient was application as treatment at level dosage 160 mL per 16 L of water. Soil sampling by using monolith and earthworm were collect by hand sorting methods. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and LSD test. The results showed that the soil tillage has no effect on the population and biomass of earthworms, but application of herbicide affected on earthworm population at one day after herbicide application. Earthworm population were higher in plot with no herbicide application (86 ind·m−2) than that plot with herbicide application (33 ind·m−2). However, at all combination treatment, earthworm population were increase followed by cassava growth. Population and biomass of earthworms found to be higher in the soil layer 0–10 cm than that 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm soil layers. Furthermore, soil water content had correlation with earthworm population.

Winter Diet of the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Urban Parks, Central Tokyo

We studied the diet of the raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the two urban parks by fecal analysis in winter, when their nutritional condition is important for breeding. From December 2015 to March 2016, we collected 39 feces from 14 latrines for defecation of raccoon dogs in the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (n = 31) and the Toyama Park (n = 8), located in central Tokyo. The samples were analyzed by the hand sorting method, and the frequency of occurrence for each food item was calculated. As a result, seeds (97.4%), birds (48.7%), and earthworms (48.7%) were detected as main food items. Major seeds of fruits detected were Hovenia dulcis (56.4%), Celtis sinensis (35.9%), Aphananthe aspera (25.6%), and Diospyros kaki (20.5%). These were planted tree species for gardens and urban greening. Preyed birds consisted mainly of Passeriformes (20.5%), Podicipedidae (7.7%), and Phalacrocoracidae (7.7%). Compared with other studies, fruits were main food items in not only urban parks but also other urban environments and mountain areas in winter. On the other hand, birds were more consumed in urban environments than mountain area, and therefore the availability of animal food items may be different between urban and mountain areas in winter.

Earthworm diversity and abundance in different habitats at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata

An ecological survey of earthworms was conducted at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata for the period of one year during August 2016-July 2017. The aim of the present study is to determine the abundance and diversity of earthworms under different land use pattern. Earthworms were collected from three different sites in SRFTI based on environment niches like grasslands, residential areas, bank of the water bodies etc., by hand sorting method. Total 8 species of earthworms were identified from 537 specimens collected and abundance plot of earthworm species were arranged by rank. The highest relative abundance of Metaphire posthuma found at the bank of water bodies, Metaphire peguana and Metaphire posthuma in residential areas and Metaphire peguana in grassland habitat, whereas the lowest relative abundance of Metaphire houlleti found in all the habitats. The highest number of species and genera were recorded in the residential areas, the least in grassland habitat. The diversity value also was highest in the residential areas with the lowest in grassland habitat. Though the highest evenness value found in the bank of the water bodies. The Dominance (d) Index value was the highest in grassland habitat with the lowest in the residential areas. The highest similarity was observed between bank of water bodies and grassland habitat.

Deskripsi Makrofauna pada Tanah Andisol di Kabupaten Karo dengan Berbagai Ketebalan Abu Vulkanik Gunung Sinabung

Changed soil conditions will result in the changed population and diversity in the soil. The eruption of Sinabung Mount caused the surface of the soil covered with volcanic ash with various thicknesses. This research was to study a description of macrofaunal communities at different thicknesses of Sinabung volcanic ash on andisol soil in Karo Regency. The experiment was conducted in May 2017. The experiment plot was located at four locations, location I was not covered by ash (0 cm), location II was covered with thin ash (≤2 cm), location III was covered with medium ash (2-8 cm), location IV was covered with thick ash (≥8 cm) using the transect sampling method. Samples was collected by using the Pitfall Trap, Monolith quadrant, and the Hand Sorting method. Macrofaunal communities found 3 phyla, 6 classes, 11 orders, 17 families, and 18 species at location I. Macrofaunal communities found 3 phyla, 7 classes, 11 orders, 16 families, and 17 species at location II. Macrofaunal communities found 2 phyla, 3 classes, 7 orders, 9 families, and 9 species at location III. Macrofaunal communities found 1 phylum, 2 classes, 5 orders, 7 families, and 7 species at location IV.

Impact of land and forest fire on soil fauna diversity in several land cover in Jambi Province, Indonesia

Wasis B, Winata B, Marpaung DR. 2018. Impact of land and forest fire on soil fauna diversity in several land cover in Jambi Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 740-746. Forest fire is one of the primary disturbances that damage forest and disturb forest sustainability. Land and forest fire may lead to die-offs, declines and in general influence the development of abundant of soil fauna on the ground. This research aims to identify and assess the diversity, wealth, evenness, and the pattern and spread of land fauna in various ecosystems, both burnt and unburnt by the fire. Research was conducted in some districts in Jambi Province, Indonesia. Sampling methods for soil diversity were done by hand-sorting methods in three burnt and unburnt ecosystems. Those ecosystems were primary forest, industrial plantation forest, and oil palm plantation. Generally, we found 519 individual species included in 46 genera, 33 families, 20 orders of 8 classes, and 3 phyla in whole ecosystem observed. The highest soil fauna diversity was primary forest with value of DMg = 4.243, H'=2.664, E=0.862. Meanwhile, the lowest soil fauna diversity was found in burnt palm plantation with value of DMg=2.102, H'=1.520, and E=0.692. Environmental factors like abiotic and biotic affected to the diversity level of soil fauna.

Variation in soil macro-fauna diversity in seven humus orders of a Parrotio-Carpinetum forest association on Chromic Cambisols of Shast-klateh area in Iran

Soil biodiversity includes organisms which spend a part or all of their life cycle on or in the soil. Among soil-dwelling animals, macro-fauna as an important group of animals have important effects on the dynamics of soil organic matter and litter decomposition process. The humus forms interact with the climatic conditions, flora, as well as soil fauna, and microbial activity. In new humus form classifications, soil organisms play an important role in separation of humus horizons from one another. The subject of this study was to determine the diversity of macro fauna for different humus forms. We determined humus forms using morphological classification, and then 69 random samples were taken from plots of 100 cm2 in area, and soil macro-fauna species were collected by hand sorting method. Two classes of humus forms, including Mull (with three humus orders, namely Dysmull, Oligomull, and Mesomull,) and Amphi (with four humus orders, namely Leptoamphi, Eumacroamphi, Eumesoamphi, and Pachyamphi) were identified. A number of 13 macro-fauna orders were identified using identification key. Among the humus orders, Shannon diversity, Simpson evenness and Margalef richness indices were the highest in Pachyamphi order. Arthropod diversity in Pachyamphi humus order was higher than those of Mull. These results showed that diversity of soil macrofauna increase by increasing the thickness of the organic horizons (OL, OF, OH), especially OH horizon.

English

The caterpillar fungus, Yartsa Gunbu (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung et al.), offers one prime example of the phenomenon, where a resource of immense economic value runs the risk of being over-exploited, more so when its exploitation remains a ‘common property resource’. The ever-increasing demand of the commodity in the international markets and concomitantly its ever-increasing price, hovering at present at US$ 20,000 per kilogram locally, has resulted in not just its rampant exploitation but also the degradation of the very habitat, thus endangering its sustainability. The present study conducted across 9 broad study sites, across 110 villages and 2511 harvesters, within the Pithoragarh district, Central Himalaya delves into the following broad objectives; (i) quantity of the harvested lot from the region; (ii) effect of over-harvesting vis-a-vis the degradation of the prime habitat on the quantity harvested each year, as also (iii) its effect on the population size of the host larva (Thitarodes), and lastly, (iv) comparative study of the income generated out of the sale of Yartsa Gunbu, with the traditional sources of income. Field visits were made to each of the village; information was gathered through open-ended questionnaire. Host population size study was conducted in three selective sites through hand-sorting method. While over-all quantity of the harvested lot has shown an increase; habitat-wise the quality harvested has shown a perceptible decline in three broad study sites, a trend likely to be replicated by rest of the sites, which currently though is experiencing an increased yield. Key words: Economy, ethnobotany, habitat ecology, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, sustainability, Yartsa Gunbu.

FOUR NEW EARTHWORM GENERA (ANNELIDA: OLIGOCHAETA) FROM NIGERIA

The taxonomy of earthworms in Nigeria has been mainly on the family Eudrilidae. The present work describes four new earthworm genera belonging to earthworm families other than the Eudrilidae. Earthworm samples were collected using the digging and hand-sorting method. The earthworms are preserved in formoacetic alcohol. The four taxa described here include Imekodrilus hexagastricus (family Moniligastridae), Adodrilus stephana (family Megascolecidae), Parnematogenia eyinwaensis and Ekitidrilus alabataensis(family Ocnerodrilidae). Imekodrilus hexagastricus from Imeko, Ogun State has six gizzards, characteristic of members of the family Moniligastridae. The genus Adodrilus is compared with 3 earthworm genera, Diporochaeta, Plutellus and Perionyx. The genus and species lacks gizzards. The calciferous glands (a pair) are present, with left and right united in segment X. Four individuals of P. eyinwaensis were collected from Eyinwa, Odogbolu Local Government Area of OgunState. The species is here described as having same position and number of calciferous glands, testes and male pores as the genus Nematogenia. Also described here is E. alabataensis, which was collected from both Ado-Ekiti and Alabata, south west Nigeria. These four genera and species are here presented as new taxa of earthworms from southwest Nigeria.ª¤?