• M.P.Krishna

Earthworms have the potential to biodegrade and biotransform chemical pollutants, there by converting them to less toxic substances in their bodies. Earthworms play an important role in soil ecology as they have the tendency to reach high densities. They are recognized as soil engineers, and occupy a vital position in soil food-webs. They improve the structure of the soil by tilting and mixing, Earthworms play important role in humus formation and increasing the water holding capacity of the soil. The distribution of earthworms is usually diverse and their numbers fluctuate in relation to the different abiotic factors and land use patterns of the soil. The fertility of soil depends on the biological diversity and soil faunal biomass. The present study was carried out in Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary of the Central Western Ghats. It is spread over an area of about 105sq km and is present at 1525m above sea level. Temperature in the region varies from 10º – 28º C. Annual rainfall ranges between 6500mm – 7500mm. The sampling was conducted during the months of May to October 2019. Earthworms were collected from selected site two to four quadrats were randomly laid, earthworms were sampled from different land use pattern like agricultural land, forest, gardens and nurseries by the hand-sorting method up to 30 cm deep by using quadrates (30 × 30 cm2 area). In the present study twelve earthworm species have been recorded belonging to nine genera and five families. As per the ecological category, one species anecic two species are epigeic and nine endogeic species are identified. Out of these Family Megascolecidae six species, Moniligastridae three species, Family Glossoscolecidae, Acanthodrilidae and Eudrilidae one each species were recorded.

Assemblage, Biodegrade, Distribution, Earthworms, Wildlife Sanctuary

"ASSEMBLAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHWORMS IN THE TALACAUVERY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN GHATS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 2, page no.72-78, February-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1802316.pdf

"ASSEMBLAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHWORMS IN THE TALACAUVERY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN GHATS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 2, page no. pp72-78, February-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1802316.pdf