Population Dynamics of Earthworm Species Amynthas alexandri (Annelida: Megascolecidae) in Two Different Land-Use Systems of Kumaun Himalayas

Authors

  • Shikha Bora Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand263002, India.
  • Deepak Chandra Melkani Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand263002, India.
  • Mansi Arya Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand263002, India.
  • Satpal Singh Bisht Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand263002, India.
  • Satpal Singh Bisht Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand263002, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/

Keywords:

Amynthas alexandri, population dynamics, cultivated soil, Grassland, vertical distribution

Abstract

Comparative study on population dynamics of earthworm  Amynthas alexandri carried out in two different land-use  systems, i.e., grassland soil at Governor’s Golf field  Nainital and croplands at Khurpatal and Chanfi, Nainital.  Earthworms from different soil systems were collected by  hand sorting and preserved in formalin for further  investigations. Soil analysis revealed that the C: N ratio  decreased with increasing depth in land-use systems  (croplands and Grassland). The highest worm density was  recorded during the rainy season in the Grassland (67.3m 2), followed by croplands (28.1 m-2). Biomass during the  Rainy season was recorded higher in grassland soil (11.5 g  m-2) than in the croplands (8.7 g m-2). 

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Published

2021-12-15

How to Cite

Population Dynamics of Earthworm Species Amynthas alexandri (Annelida: Megascolecidae) in Two Different Land-Use Systems of Kumaun Himalayas . (2021). Bulletin of Pure & Applied Sciences- Zoology , 40(2), 226–237. https://doi.org/10.48165/