Chaudhuri P S, Bhattacharjee Subhalaxmi, Dey Animesh, Chattopadhyay Sharmila, Bhattacharya Dipto
Department of Zoology, Tripura University, West Tripura-799 022, India.
J Environ Biol. 2013 Jan;34(1):59-65.
A comparative analysis of earthworm communities was carried out in the rubber plantations (Hevea brasiliensis) of different age groups in West Tripura to understand the impact of such exotic and monoculture plantation in biodiversity conservation. Earthworm communities were studied on monthly basis over a period of one year (2006-2007) in the 3, 10, 14, 20 and 25 year-old plantations. Among twelve earthworm species collected from the studied sites, six species belonged to Octochaetidae [Eutyphoeus assomensis Stephenson, Eutyphoeus comillahnus Michaelsen, Lennogaster chittagongensis (Stephensen), Octochaetona beatrix Gates, Dichogaster offinis Michaelsen, Lennogaster yeicus (Stephensen)], two species each to Megascolecidae [Metaphire houlleti (Perrier), Konchurio sp. 1] and Moniligastridae [Drowida nepalensis Michaelsen, Drawida papillifer papillifer Stephenson], one species each to Glossoscolecidae [Pontoscolex corethrurus (Muller)] and Ocnerodrilidae [Gordiodrilus elegans Beddard]. Exotic species P corethrurus, M. houlleti and native peregrine species like D. nepolensis and D. papillifer papillifer were distributed in all the age groups of plantation, while other species showed restricted distribution. P. corethrurus contributed more than 60% biomass and 70% density of earthworm communities in rubber plantation. With aging of rubber plantations both the densities and biomasses of earthworms increased. High contents of polyphenol, flavonoid and lignin in the litters of 3 and 10 year-old-rubber plantations through their effects on food intake, probably resulted to low biomass values of earthworms in those age groups of plantation. With further increase in the age of plantations beyond 10 years, polyphenol, flavonoid and lignin contents decreased. Accordingly the biomass of earthworms increased with increase in the age of plantation. Soil moisture increased with increase in the age of plantation and there was a good positive correlation between soil moisture and earthworm biomass (p < 0.01). Density, biomass and dominance of earthworms increased while species diversity, species richness and species evenness of earthworm community were decreased with increase in the age of rubber plantation.
为了解这种外来单一栽培种植园对生物多样性保护的影响，对西特里普拉不同年龄组的橡胶种植园（巴西橡胶树）中的蚯蚓群落进行了比较分析。在2006 - 2007年的一年时间里，每月对3年、10年、14年、20年和25年树龄的种植园中的蚯蚓群落进行研究。在所研究地点采集的12种蚯蚓中，6种属于八毛蚓科[阿萨姆真盲蚓斯蒂芬森、科米尔真盲蚓米凯尔森、吉大港长胃蚓（斯蒂芬森）、比阿特丽斯八毛蚓盖茨、奥菲尼斯双胸蚓米凯尔森、叶氏长胃蚓（斯蒂芬森）]，2种属于巨蚓科[霍氏后孔蚓（佩里尔）、孔丘里蚓属1]，2种属于链胃蚓科[尼泊尔链胃蚓米凯尔森、乳头链胃蚓乳头亚种斯蒂芬森]，1种属于舌蚓科[科氏南美蚓（米勒）]，1种属于奥尼罗蚓科[秀丽戈德蚓贝达德]。外来物种科氏南美蚓、霍氏后孔蚓以及本地外来物种如尼泊尔链胃蚓和乳头链胃蚓乳头亚种分布在种植园的所有年龄组中，而其他物种分布受限。科氏南美蚓在橡胶种植园蚯蚓群落的生物量中占比超过60%，在密度中占比70%。随着橡胶种植园的老化，蚯蚓的密度和生物量均增加。3年和10年树龄橡胶种植园凋落物中高含量的多酚、黄酮和木质素，可能通过影响食物摄入量，导致这些年龄组种植园中的蚯蚓生物量值较低。随着种植园树龄超过10年进一步增加，多酚、黄酮和木质素含量下降。相应地，蚯蚓生物量随着种植园树龄的增加而增加。土壤湿度随着种植园树龄的增加而增加，并且土壤湿度与蚯蚓生物量之间存在良好的正相关（p < 0.01）。随着橡胶种植园树龄的增加，蚯蚓的密度、生物量和优势度增加，而蚯蚓群落的物种多样性、物种丰富度和物种均匀度下降。
