Species Of Lumbricidae Research Articles

BIODIVERSITY OF EDAPHIC FAUNA IN GRAY FOREST SOILS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Gray forest soils of the natural ecosystems in the central and northern zones of the Republic of Moldova are the habitat and the source of conservation and reproduction of the edaphic fauna. They represent themselves the standards of the biodiversity for soil invertebrates. Invertebrates sampling was carried out from test cuts by manual sampling of soil layers to the depth of soil fauna occurrence. The main content of invertebrates in gray soils under the forest was in the layer of 0-20 cm. In addition to the Lumbricidae family there were found the species of the Clubionidae, Hydromiidae, Scarabaeidae, Oniscidae, Tortricidae, Julidae, Curculionidae, Carabidae, Geophilidae, Tenebrionidae, Melandryidae and Formicidae families. Species of Eisenia rosea, Euomphalia strigella, Formica rufa, Tortrix viridana, Curculio glandium, Melolontha melolontha and others have been identified in three subtypes of gray forest soils of natural ecosystems. The long use of these soils in agricultural production led to the considerable decrease in the number and biomass of invertebrates and degradation of the faunal complex in general. The number of families decreased from 6-12 to 1-3. Species of Lumbricidae, Elateridae, Tortricidae and Coccinellidae have been found in arable gray forest soils. The trophic pyramids are stable in the typical virgin gray soil. The relationship between trophic levels of the edaphic fauna in the typical gray forest soil is stronger in comparison with albic and molic gray forest soils.

Community structure of Lumbricidae in beech woodland of the Bieszczady National Park, Southeast Poland

As ecosystem engineers, earthworms play a key role in the soil environment. However, due to increasing anthropogenic pressure, soil organisms, including earthworms, are being threatened by habitat loss. In this study, we undertook a qualitative and quantitative investigation of earthworms of the family Lumbricidae in four types of Carpathian beech woodland (Fagetum carpaticum), characterized by their understory vegetation (I, F. c. festucetosum drymejae; II, F. c. typicum; III, F. c. lunarietosum; and IV, F. c. allietosum), in the Bieszczady National Park (Eastern Carpathians, Southeast Poland). At each investigated site, soil monoliths (25 cm × 25 cm × 25 cm) were examined by hand sorting. Earthworms were expelled from deep soil layers using a weak formalin solution (0.4%). Depending on the phytocoenosis, 7 species of Lumbricidae were identified at each of the sites I, II, and III and 10 at site IV. Site IV (F. c. allietosum) differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the other three sites with respect to earthworm biomass (59.71 ± 39.53 g m–2) and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (0.52 ± 0.12). Although present three decades ago, the deep-burrowing species Octodrilus transpadanus and the litter-dwelling species Dendrobaena octaedra were not found at site IV in the present study. We suspect that these two species may have been displaced by the invasive Lumbricus terrestris, which was not found at the same site in the 1980s. Such observations warrant further investigation to verify the predicted effects of an invasive earthworm, including the potential effects on soils and other fauna and flora, which have been documented in numerous countries.

Do Long-Term Continuous Cropping and Pesticides Affect Earthworm Communities?

Earthworm species composition, the density of individuals, and their biomass were investigated in spring barley and faba bean fields in a long-term (52-year) experiment conducted at the Production and Experimental Station in Bałcyny, in north-eastern Poland (53°40′ N; 19°50′ E). Additionally, post-harvest residues biomass, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil pH were recorded. The above traits were investigated using two experimental factors: I. cropping system—continuous cropping (CC) vs. crop rotation (CR) and II. pesticide plant protection: herbicide + fungicide (HF+) vs. no plant protection (HF−). A total of three species of Lumbricidae were found: Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.) in both crops, Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.) in spring barley, and Lumbricus terrestris (L.) in faba bean. The density and biomass of earthworms were unaffected by experimental treatments in spring barley fields, whereas in faba bean CC increased and HF+ decreased earthworm density and biomass in comparison with CR and HF− respectively. Total post-harvest residues in faba bean fields were higher under CC in relation to CR and under HF+ compared with HF− treatment in both crops. Compared to CR, CC increased soil pH in spring barley fields and decreased in faba bean fields. Experimental factors did not affect SOM. Earthworm density and biomass were positively correlated with SOM content.

Biotopic Association of Earthworms in Intact Forests of Teberda Nature Reserve

Contribution of micromosaic structure of high mountain forests to ecological diversity of earthworms have been assessed. Intact forests of Arkhyz section of Teberda Nature Reserve were studied. The dominant types of forests have been recognized for the first time based on eco-coenotic classification. The ecological conditions of their functioning have been studied. Earthworm numbers have been studied in the recognized forest types. Diversity of earthworms was studied in soils under crowns, under fallen trees, and in mosses growing on rocks. 16 species of Lumbricidae have been found, with 4 of them being discovered for the first time. Full complexes of Lumbricidae were associated with biotopes of forest types of increased soil moisture content, low acidity, availability of nitrogen and pronounced litter. The largest abundance, diversity and biomass of Lumbricidae have been found in nitrophilous tallgrass gray alder forests. The lowest have been found in xeromesophytic pine forests with fir, spruce and birch. The most widespread dark coniferous forest with beech were inhabited by seven species of Lumbricidae, dominated by the epigeic species. There were few epi-endogeic and anecic species. The endogeic group of earthworms was represented by Crimea and Caucasus subendemic Dendrobaena schmidti. Diversity and biomass of earthworms in dark coniferous forests with beech were higher than in spruce-fir forests. During summer, dead fallen trees served as a microsite preferential for epigeic and endogeic species, while mosses growing on rocks were preferred by endogeic species.

New records of Lumbricidae and Collembola in anthropogenic soils of East European tundra.

The terrestrial environment of the East European tundra consists of a mosaic of habitat types. In addition to the natural habitat diversity, various human-influenced types may occur. In the town of Vorkuta, Komi Republic, Russia the manure-enriched soils near hydrogen sulfide springs were observed. This site represents an unusually nutrient-rich location with considerable development of organic soils, in contrast to the naturally forming soils in East European tundra which are typically thin and nutrient poor. In these organic soils, two species of Lumbricidae and two species of Collembola previously not recorded from the natural ecosystems in the study area of research territory were found. One earthworm species, Dendrodrilus rubidus tenuis, is likely to have been introduced. The presence of the three other species (Eiseniella tetraedra, Folsomia fimetaria, and Proisotoma minuta) is quite natural in East European tundra and such anthropogenic soils with high organic content may be a good habitat for them.

Structural and functional characteristics of high alpine soil macro-invertebrate communities

Soil macro-invertebrates play an important role in the formation and functioning of soils, which makes them indispensable for all terrestrial ecosystems, including high alpine soils. However, in the latter, knowledge on species identity, diversity, and functionality of macro-invertebrate soil communities is scarce. Here, we address this knowledge gap by investigating the structural and functional composition of soil macro-invertebrate communities in high alpine sites of the European Alps that differ in sheep grazing intensity (low, medium, and high). Abundance data were combined with the analysis of natural variations in stable isotope ratios (13C/12C, 15N/14N) of food sources and soil animals, allowing insight into the trophic structure of the decomposer community. The presence of sheep significantly increased the abundance of Nematocera, but reduced the abundance of most other taxa. Diplopoda were found exclusively at the low elevation site with almost no sheep grazing, while Diptera larvae increased in numbers at higher elevation sites. Lumbricidae species were abundant at all sites except the highest site, which was intensively grazed by sheep and also used as a resting place. In contrast, trophic relations were not affected by sheep grazing intensity, four trophic groups were clearly distinguished, pointing to a relatively simple food web structure: (1) primary decomposers, (2) secondary decomposers and dung feeders, (3) root and fungal feeders, and (4) predators. We suggest that the shallow soils with high organic matter do not allow the formation of more complex food webs.

Earthworm (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) Populations of the Karasu River Basin (Central Caucasus)

The species composition, population structure, and synecological characteristics of earthworms inhabiting forest and meadow formations of unique beech–hornbeam woodland of the Karasu River basin have been studied. Thirteen Lumbricidae species were found. The species composition and earthworm population structure depend on phytocenosis edificators. The greatest diversity, namely, species, chorological, and ecological, was recorded in soils of relict beech phytocenosis. It was shown that in the case of forest clearing its earthworm’s fauna remains intact. In the secondary meadows, the following was noted: the lowest species diversity of Lumbricidae, domination of soil species proper, and dramatically increasing diversity indices compared to forest associations.

Does an earthworm species acclimatize and/or adapt to soil calcium conditions? The consequences of soil nitrogen mineralization in forest soil

AbstractCalcium (Ca)‐rich food can increase feeding of Lumbricidae. Earthworms can be genetically differentiated at a small spatial scale and acclimatize to the local environment during growth. Soil feeding and subsequent cast production by earthworms affects soil N mineralization. Here, we hypothesized that soil feeding and subsequent cast production by Lumbricidae species increases with high soil Ca content and that this increase is stronger in worms from high‐Ca soil. We also hypothesized that changes in the soil feeding of Lumbricidae species along with the Ca content affects the soil N mineralization via changes in the cast production. Using a geophageous earthworm species (Eisenia japonica) originated from two different Ca environments (calcareous soil and sedimentary soil), we investigated cast production and soil N mineralization in three soils (sedimentary soil, sedimentary soil with Ca addition, and calcareous soil). The soil feeding of E. japonica from both origins did not always increase despite the high soil Ca content. We suggest that both the Ca content and other soil conditions (e.g., soil C:N) might be major factors in increasing soil feeding by E. japonica. Furthermore, the influence of Ca addition on cast production varied according to the earthworm origin. As expected, these differences in cast production are linked to soil N mineralization (especially nitrification). In summary, our study suggests that the acclimatization and/or adaptation of Lumbricidae species to local environmental factors not only soil Ca content explains spatially heterogeneous soil N mineralization in forest soil.

Earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) near the township Dombay of Teberda Reserve (Northwest Caucasus, Karachay-Cherkessia)

The population and characteristics of biotope distribution of earthworms near the township Dombay of the Teberda Reserve were studied. A mountain-forest belt, sparse growths of trees, elfin woodlands at the top edge of the forest, a sub-alpine meadow and lower mountain pastures were screened. Faunistic and quantitative surveys of earthworms were conducted in the soil and deadwood. The method of excavation and manual disassembly of soil samples was used in soil research. In the study of deadwood, trunks of Fagus orientalis and Picea orientalis of the 2nd and 3rd stages of decomposition were examined manually. Quantitative values were calculated per unit area (1 m2) and unit volume (1 m3). Twelve species of Lumbricidae were described in total. The Crimean-Caucasian endemic polymorphic species Dendrobaena shmidti, represented here by an unpigmented endogeic form, has the greatest abundance, biomass and widespread distribution. The highest species richness of Lumbricidae is in the mountainforest belt, which is inhabited by representatives of four morpho-ecological groups: epigeic, epi-endogeic, endogeic and anecic species. Forest communities are inhabited by 4–9 earthworm species. The lowest species diversity and abundance were observed in the sparse growths of trees, elfin woodlands at the top edge of the forest and the subalpine meadow. The highest abundance and biomass were observed on pasture. The endogeic earthworms were a dominant group in all communities. A high proportion of epigeic species in all forest communities was noted only for deadwood. The epi-endogeic group is represented primarily by Lumbricus rubellus, the abundance of which is particularly high in the pasture. The epi-endogeic species Eisenia fetida was found only in deadwood. The only anecic species, L. terrestris, was encountered in two forest communities and in a garden of Dombay. Small epigeic species Dendrobaena octaedra, Dendrodrilus rubidus tenuis and Dendrobaena attemsi play the main role in deadwood decomposition; deadwood serves as the main habitat for these species in spring and summer. Deadwood is an additional habitat for large-sized endogeic and epi-endogeic species; mature and juvenile worms live here in the litter and moss cover, the rotting wood is penetrated only by juveniles of large-sized species.

Cryptic diversity within the Nordenskiold's earthworm, Eisenia nordenskioldi subsp. nordenskioldi (Lumbricidae, Annelida)

Eisenia nordenskioldi subsp. nordenskioldi (Eisen, 1879) is the most cold-tolerant earthworm species that is widespread in Northern Eurasia. We analyzed genetic variation among several geographically remote populations of E. n. nordenskioldi, as well as several other species of Lumbricidae, using mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear ribosomal (ITS2) sequence markers. According to both markers, species of the genus Eisenia did not form a clade; in contrast, E. n. nordenskioldi and Eisenia nordenskioldi subsp. pallida grouped together with Siberian Aporrectodea rosea and Lumbricus rubellus on the phylogenetic tree built using combined cox1 + ITS2 data, suggesting that these species form an endemic Siberian clade. E. n. nordenskioldi turned out to be non-monophyletic and consisted of six highly diverged lineages having distinct distribution areas. Genetic variation within these lineages was also very high and geographically structured. Phylogeographic patterns within the lineages may suggest that their distributions was not affected by Pleistocene glaciations, and, therefore, may be a useful source of information for biogeographic reconstructions of Northern Eurasia.

Prospects of using the electrophoresis technique for identification of the taxonomic status of earthworms (Lumbricidae)

The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique was used for comparison of common protein of body wall tissues in five species of Lumbricidae (Eisenia nordenskioldi, E.fetida, Lumbricus rubellus, Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. longa). The statistic processing of indexes of electrophoretic similarity revealed three levels of similarity: intraspecies, interspecies, and intergenus. It was discovered that the similarity of E. nordenskioldi and E.fetida proteins corresponded to the intergenus level. The use of this method for determination of the earthworm's taxonomic status is discussed.

Adaptive features of life forms in Aporrectodea caliginosa

We considered that the morphoecological differences between species of Lumbricidae have adaptive character. For our research, the amplitude and frequency of contractions of the visceral (gizzard) smooth muscles were selected. The contractive activity of the muscles was studied according to the method of isolated preparations. The greatest amplitude of contractions (86.71±3.66 per mg) was recorded in worms of mineral soils for Aporrectodea caliginosa caliginosa in which the frequency of contractions of visceral muscles was 2.46±0.58 contr/min. Apparently, in detritophages the gut muscles push the dense food mass, but their contractions are not more frequent than 2–3 times a minute. The muscles of the surface-living A. caliginosa trapezoides showed smaller amplitude, 49.58±2.56 per mg, and frequencies were 4.89±0.37 contr/min. This subspecies ingested decaying vegetative remains, which entered their intestines as loose food mass completely accessible to digestion. Earthworms inhabiting mineral soil layers have greater amplitude of gut muscle contractions than the leaf-litter species, which is probably influenced by differences in their diet. We can conclude that parameters of spontaneous contractive activity of smooth muscles of the A. caliginosa digestive tract are related to the subspecies’ life characteristics in biocenosis. These parameters are stable characteristics of the forms adapted to consumption of certain types of food resources in natural habitats.

Gut-Associated Denitrification and In Vivo Emission of Nitrous Oxide by the Earthworm Families Megascolecidae and Lumbricidae in New Zealand

Previous studies have documented the capacity of European earthworms belonging to the family Lumbricidae to emit the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N(2)O), an activity attributed primarily to the activation of ingested soil denitrifiers. To extend the information base to earthworms in the Southern Hemisphere, four species of earthworms in New Zealand were examined for gut-associated denitrification. Lumbricus rubellus and Aporrectodea rosea (introduced species of Lumbricidae) emitted N(2)O, whereas emission of N(2)O by Octolasion cyaneum (an introduced species of Lumbricidae) and emission of N(2)O by Octochaetus multiporus (a native species of Megascolecidae) were variable and negligible, respectively. Exposing earthworms to nitrite or nitrate and acetylene significantly increased the amount of N(2)O emitted, implicating denitrification as the primary source of N(2)O and indicating that earthworms emitted dinitrogen (N(2)) in addition to N(2)O. The alimentary canal displayed a high capacity to produce N(2)O when it was supplemented with nitrite, and alimentary canal contents contained large amounts of carbohydrates and organic acids indicative of fermentation (e.g., succinate, acetate, and formate) that could serve as sources of reductant for denitrification. nosZ encodes a portion of the terminal oxidoreductase used in denitrification. The nosZ sequences detected in the alimentary canals of L. rubellus and O. multiporus were similar to those retrieved from soil and were distantly related to sequences of uncultured soil bacteria and genera common in soils (i.e., Bradyrhizobium, Azospirillum, Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodospirillum, Pseudomonas, Oligotropha, and Sinorhizobium). These findings (i) suggest that the capacity to emit N(2)O and N(2) is a general trait of earthworms and not geographically restricted, (ii) indicate that species belonging to different earthworm families (i.e., Megascolecidae and Lumbricidae) may not have equal capacities to emit N(2)O, and (iii) also corroborate previous findings that link this capacity to denitrification in the alimentary canal.

Assembly rules within earthworm communities in North-Western France—A regional analysis

This paper addresses the factors that constrain the assembly of earthworm communities in temperate land use systems. An occurrence matrix containing 44 localities and 20 species was build from data sets of different studies carried out in Haute Normandie (France). The whole data set included species lists from the three main landscape units and from a range of land use types from unmanaged forests and grasslands to intensive pastures and annual crops. We used species pool, multivariate (correspondence analysis) and null model analyse to explore how species occurring in a given community are sorted from the regional species pool. Special attention was paid to identifying non-randomness in co-occurrence and morpho-ecological patterns and to describing community patterns in response to habitat constraints. Twenty species of Lumbricidae were identified in the total species pool. We found no significant effect of landscape units on species richness and density, while land use type had a significant impact on both variables, with the lowest values in crops and forests, and the highest values in grasslands. Correspondence analysis highlighted how broad land use types, soil gradients and land use intensity influence patterns of community composition and ecological coherence. Non-random patterns in guild proportion were found in a few situations, with differences between grasslands and forests. This shows that environmental filters select species at specific scales according to particular ecological traits, resulting in a convergence of these traits between species of a given community. Local species richness never exceeded nine species and species co-occurrence was significantly lower than expected by chance and much lower than described in the literature for other taxa. Although no significant patterns of limiting similarity were observed at the scale of our study, we conclude that earthworm communities are also highly structured by competition. Our study thus agrees with the idea that both habitat and competitive constraints operate simultaneously to determine how community assembly takes place.

Beech leaf degradation in laboratory experiments: Effects of eight detritivorous invertebrate species

This work addresses the impact of eight detritivorous species of soil macro-invertebrates (three millipedes, two woodlice and three earthworms) on short-term carbon mineralization and mechanical breakdown of beech leaves. The production rate, size class distribution and OM content of invertebrate faeces were also measured. Hierarchical clustering (HC) and multivariate analysis were performed to find relevant functional groups among the species studied. Our results identified three groups of macro-invertebrates on the basis of their impacts on beach leaf degradation (hierarchical clustering): (1) invertebrates that produce fresh faeces with high N contents compared with other species (i.e. polydesmidae and a single species of lumbricidae); (2) other lumbricidae that fragment litter into fine particles in their faeces and actively stimulate CO 2 release; (3) other arthropods that fragment litter into coarse particles and have weak impacts on OM mineralization. These groups over-ride taxonomy, and are proposed as a tentative functional classification of litter dwelling invertebrates. On the other hand, an idiosyncratic impact of species was observed in each group, highlighting how much empirical data are still needed to propose a robust functional classification of litter invertebrates.

Invasion Patterns of Lumbricidae Into the Previously Earthworm-free Areas of Northeastern Europe and the Western Great Lakes Region of North America

We examine the patterns of expansion of exotic European earthworms in northeastern Europe and the western Great Lakes region of North America. These areas share many ecological, climatic and historical characteristics and are devoid of indigenous earthworm fauna due to Quaternary glaciations. These regions are being colonized by a similar suite of exotic lumbricid species and it is unlikely that this is the result of chance, but rather indicates that these species have particular characteristics making them successful invaders. The present macro-scale distributions of earthworm species in northern Russia show little connection to the pattern of the last glaciation. Rather, the primary factors that determine the current distributions of earthworm species include climatic conditions, the life history traits of different earthworm species, the suitability of habitat and intensity and patterns of human activity. In the western Great Lakes region of North America, there are three primary factors affecting current distributions of exotic earthworm species including the patterns of human activity and land use practices, the composition of particular source populations of earthworms associated with different vectors of transport and the soil and litter properties of habitats across the region. Disturbance of a habitat does not appear to be a prerequisite to the invasion and establishment of exotic earthworms. Analysis of the macro-scale distributions of Lumbricidae species in northeastern Europe may provide important insights into the potential of invasive European earthworm species to spread in North America, and identify potentially invasive species.

Lumbricidae as transitory hosts in Metastrongylus infection in swine

Metastrongylidosis or lungworm disease in swine is a disease caused by several types of nematodes of the genus Metastrongylus. Metastrongylidae are biohelminths whose causes use transitory hosts for their development and maintaining their biological cycle, and in this case they are numerous species of Lumbricidae (earthworms). Depending on the geographic environment, numerous representatives of Lumbricidae persist as transitory hosts. In our environment, these are dominant earthworm species of the genus Eisenia spp, Dandreobena spp, Allopbophora spp, Lubricus spp, Octoiasium spp, Bimastus spp, and rarely those from the genus Heledrillus spp. Swine are infected perorally with Metastrongylidae when they ingest infected earthworms.

Effect of introducing earthworms into horticultural land previously denuded of earthworms

An intensive vegetable growing area with no resident earthworms has received, since 1984, three cultivation treatments, involving varying degrees of disturbance, and two cropping regimes, a summer and winter crop with a winter ryegrass cover crop. Five species of Lumbricidae were introduced to part of each treatment in 1986 to assess the effect of cultivation treatments on earthworm establishment and survival, and the effect of earthworms on some soil characteristics. The experiment was designed so the effects of earthworms could be interpreted against the background of periodic changes in soil characteristics caused by cultivation, crop species and weather. Earthworm population density (numbers m −2) and activity (casts m −2) decreased with increasing intensity of cultivation. Cellulose decomposition rates were increased up to 30% by the presence of earthworms, although cultivation per se had no apparent effect. By contrast, cultivation substantially reduced soil strength (measured by impact penetrometer) while earthworm introduction had no significant effect. Similarly, saturated hydraulic conductivity of the topsoil (measured in situ) appeared unaffected by earthworms. However, infiltration and air-permeability measurements indicated that earthworms had improved the structure of the bulk soil matrix.

The nature of eurytopy in polyploid earthworm species in relation to their use in biological soil amelioration

Many of the most widely distributed species of Lumbricidae are polyploid. So far polyploid forms have been found to be distributed more widely than diploid ones. Taking Eisenia nordenskioldi as an example, it was shown that polyploids are able to occupy new ecological niches within the area of the diploid form. Ecological differences observed in representatives of different chromosomal races provide polyploids with the chance to coexist in one biocurrent, occupying different ecological niches.

The effect on earthworms of ploughing, tined cultivation, direct drilling and nitrogen in a barley monoculture system

SUMMARYDilute formalin was used to sample earthworm populations after the second (1969) and sixth (1973) harvests from a continuous barley experiment in which the cultivation treatments include deep (30 cm), normal ploughing (20 cm) and tined (three passes to 20 cm) cultivations and no tillage (direct drilling), at four nitrogen rates: 0, 50, 100 and 150 kgN/ha. Eight species of Lumbricidae were found, withAllolobophora chloroticaandA. longaco-dominant in both years, joined byA. caliginosain 1973.In 1969,Lumbricusspp., particularly largeLumbricus terreslris, tended to be more numerous in the untilled plots.In 1973, the total populations had increased by 170%, with 50–100% more earthworms in untilled than ploughed plots, one third more with 50 and 100 kg N/ha fertilizer than with no nitrogen, and one-third more in the slightly heavier sandy clay loam soil than the lighter loam.Most earthworm species reacted in the same way, and the reasons for any unusual reactions are discussed.