Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Soil
Site
T.R. E.B.E. C.A.
S p e c i e s
1 2 3 4 5
Allolobophora caliginosa
(Savigny, 1826)
Allolobophora dacica
(Pop, 1938)
Allolobophorarosea
(Savigny, 1826)
Dendrobaena byblica
(Rosa, 1893)
Dendrobaena clujensis
Pop, 1938
Dendrobaena rubida
(Savigny, 1826)
Lumbricus polyphemus
(Fitzinger, 1883)
Lumbricus rubellus
Hoffmeister, 1843
Octolasion lacteum
Örley, 1885
Octodrilus b. bihariensis
V. V. Pop, 1989
Octodrilus b. rendzinicola
V. V. Pop, 1989
Octodrilus c. compromissus
Zicsi & V. V. Pop, 1984
Octodrilus e. exacystis
Rosa, 1896
Octodrilus e. oresbius
V. V. Pop, 1989
T.R., Terra rossa. E.B.E., Brown earth. C.A., Colluvial-alluvial.
Dominance %
0
0-10
10.1-20
20.1- 40
40.1- 60
60.1-100
FIGURE 7.9
Structure of earthworm communities with
Octodrilus
species in grassland ecosystems from the
Carpathians.
forest from Padis, the peculiar, obvious vermic characters developed in the soil by the giant
O.
frivaldszkyi
and the large
O. bihariensis
were first recorded (Pop and Postolache 1987). In this
chapter, only the seasonal dynamics of the earthworm community that was dominated by
Octodrilus
species from the beech forest is presented. Mean data for the other two sites studied
are given only for comparison of the earthworm biomass.
Site
The site was the Padis karstic plateau, Bihorului Mountain, in the Apuseni Mountains, at 1300-m
altitude, south-southwest aspect, 20% slope, and in a beech forest (As.
Symphyto cordati
-
Fagetum
Vida 1959, facies with
Allium ursini
). The soil is a cambic rendzina with calcic mull and the
following profile: O (0 to 2 cm), Am (0 to 25 cm), AmBv (25 to 36 cm), BvR (36 to 46 cm), and
R (46 cm or deeper).
Methods
A stratified random earthworm sampling program was initiated that involved sampling earthworm
populations at monthly intervals during May to October 1979 (months without snow cover).
Earthworms were expelled from the soil by formalin; there were nine sample units, each with 50-
cm by 50-cm surface area. Biomass was estimated by weighing the earthworms preserved in 4%
formalin. Comparative weighing of worms, with and without emptying the gut content, showed
that the loss of weight through preservation in formalin corresponded approximately with the weight
