Enchytraeids and earthworms (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae, Lumbricidae) of parks in the city of Brno, Czech Republic

0335788 - BC 2010 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Schlaghamerský, J. - Pižl, Václav
Enchytraeids and earthworms (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae, Lumbricidae) of parks in the city of Brno, Czech Republic.
Soil Organisms. Roč. 81, č. 2 (2009), s. 145-173. ISSN 1864-6417
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA600660608
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60660521
Keywords : annelids * soil * urban ecology
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour

In 2006-2008 soil-dwellimg annelids were studied in old parks in the central part of Brno (Czechia). The sites fell into three distinct size classes: 16-18 ha, 1.7-2.7 ha and lawns of 100 m². Earthworms were sampled by the Electro-octet Method and enchytraeids by wet funnel extraction from soil cores. Mean enchytraeid densities were low, not exceeding ca. 6100 ind. m^-2. Mean earthworm densities ranged between 109 and 295 ind. m^-2. Per park, 3 to 13 enchytraeid species and from 2 to 6 earthworm species were found, for all parks pooled 9 enchytraeid and 8 lumbricid species. Epigeic earthworm species were almost absent. Species richness in the largest and medium-sized parks was similar for both taxa. In enchytraeids lowest species numbers were found in the smallest plots, in earthworms in one of the 100 m² plots, whereas the other one hosted as many or more species than two of the medium-sized parks.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0180157