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Earthworm communities in spruce forest soils - effects of some natural and anthropogenic factors
Pižl, Václav
Earthworm fauna was analysed and compared in 22 natural and man-made spruce forests located in seven regions of the Czech Republic. 14 species of earthworms were identified; among which acidotolerant epigeic species Dendrobaena octaedra, D. illyrica, Dendrodrilus rubidus, Dendrobaena vejdovskyi and Lumbricus rubellus were most frequently recorded. Poor earthworm communities (1-4 species, density 1,2 - 38,4 ind.m-2) inhabited majority of sites. Nevertheless, strong differences occured in their species composition reflecting both the geographical position of sites and the origin of individual forests. Higher density and/or per-site number, of species were always connected with the presence of specific habitats such as water sources, brooks, wood or bark heaps, etc. Earthworm faunas in damaged mountain spruce forests tended to be more abundant than in undamaged forests and to have higher number of species. Denser earthworm populations developed at sites where dead trees were left than at clear-cut ones.
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