Species richness and density of earthworm populations in grasslands of western Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study presents the first survey of earthworm species from the grasslands of Uttar Pradesh, a northern state of India. The study was conducted in all five political regions (e.g., Agra, Bareilly, Meerut, Moradabad and Saharanpur) of western Uttar Pradesh, during different climatic seasons from the year 2007 till 2009. Seven species belonging to two earthworm families were recorded: Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant), Lampito mauritii (Kinberg, 1867) and Perionyx excavatus (Perrier, 1872) from Megascolecidae and Eutyphoeus i.e. E. waltoni (Michaelsen, 1907), E. gigas (Stephenson, 1917), E. orientalis (Beddard, 1883) and E. pharpingianus (Michaelsen, 1907) from Octochaetidae. Moradabad was identified as the region of western Uttar Pradesh showing the highest species richness of earthworms during rainy season (July to October). Species richness and density of worms were assessed the maximum in Moradabad and the minimum density in Saharanpur during peak winter months i.e. from November to February. However, species richness of worms was found the least in Meerut region during winter and summer months and Saharanpur during summers (March to June). M. posthuma was found in all the regions round the years but L. mauritii and E.waltoni have been reported from all the regions only during the rainy season. P. excavatus was next in occurrence pattern, as it was recorded from all the regions except from Meerut. E. pharpingianus was found in all the regions except Meerut. Occurrence of E.orientalis and E. gigas was recorded rarely.

Key words:

• Earthworm
• species richness
• population density
• grassland
• climatic factors
• Uttar Pradesh state