A Comprehensive Study of the Taxonomy and Ecology of the Lumbricid Earthworm Genus Octodrilus from the Carpathians - Earthworm Ecology - page 123

AIR
A 0-5 cm
A 5-10 cm
A 10-15 cm

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 1979

300 OLHF

A 0-5 cm
A 5-10 cm
A 10-15 cm

250

200

150

100

50

0

May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

FIGURE 7.10 Seasonal dynamics of microclimate in soil.

of the gut content. Earthworms were identiÝed to species level, and each species was divided into
three age groups (adult, subadult, juvenile).

Microclimatic Dynamics

Seasonal dynamics of air and soil temperature (O-litter or organic stratum and the A horizon at 0

to 5, 5 to 10, and 10 to 15 cm) are shown in Figure 7.10. Air temperature ranged between 11 and

15AC. Soil temperature has two maxima, in June and in September. Soil moisture, more constant
in deeper horizons, has a somewhat similar seasonal dynamics.

Seasonal Dynamics of the Earthworm Community

Five species were at the study site ( Table 7.3 ) . The community structure is the one described as a

community with O. frivaldszkyi in the separate section above. Octodrilus frivaldszkyi is one of the
giant species characteristic of the limestone areas in these mountains and is often associated with
the endogeic O. bihariensis rendzinicola . Dendrobaena alpina , a small epigeic worm, is mostly
characteristic of coniferous forests in the Carpathians. The study area has sparse Ýr trees, which
explains the presence and low density of this species. Dendrobaena byblica and D. clujensis , which
are red-pigmented epi-endogeic species of earthworms, are common in the beech and Ýr tree forests
of the Carpathians. The biomass of the earthworm community is dominated throughout the year

by the two Octodrilus species ( Figure 7.11 ). The seasonal dynamics of mean density and biomass
of individual earthworm species are summarized in Figure 7.12 and Figure 7.13 .