Journal of Environmental Biology

Biodiversity of ecologically important earthworms in subtropical forest ecosystems of East and West Imphal districts of Manipur

R.S. Thounaojam* and B.S. Thingbaijam 

Department of Zoology, Manipur University, Imphal-795 003, India

*Corresponding Author Email : rjemeitei@gmail.com

Paper received: 10.12.2019 ?????? ???????????????????????????????????????Revised received: 25.06.2020 ???????????? ?????????????????????????????Accepted: 10.07.2020

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the community structure (composition) of ecologically important earthworm species and to assess the diversity, density and evenness in subtropical climatic condition of Manipur, Northeast India.

Methodology: Samples were collected from two subtropical forest ecosystems of valley districts of Manipur, North-east India under Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot. Tropical soil biology and fertility methodology was used in sample collection at monthly interval for a period of one year (January to December, 2018).?????     

Results: Altogether eight earthworm species belonging to six genera under four families were observed and identified from the study sites. Five species (Metaphire birmanica, M. houlleti, M. anomala, Kanchuria sumerianus, Perionyx sp.), family Megascolecidae represented highest species composition and remaining families viz., Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Moniligastridae (Drawida sp.), Octochaetidae (Eutyphoeus sp.) were represented by one species each. Diversity was high at Site-I compare to Site-II. Pontoscolex corethrurus and Drawida sp. were found throughout all the seasons during the sampled period.      

Interpretation: It is concluded that forests with high canopy cover with less human interference favour the presence of higher diversity of earthworm than forests with less canopy cover in subtropical forest ecosystems of Manipur. 

Key words: Biodiversity, Earthworm, Hotspot, Subtropical

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