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- Title
COMPARATIVE ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF LUMBRICIDAE ON GRAZED AND UNGRAZED NATURAL MARITIME GRASSLAND.
- Authors
Boyd, J. Morton
- Abstract
1. The perimeter (cattle-proof) fence of the airfield at Tiree, Argyll, is a distinct ecological discontinuity between grazed and ungrazed maritime grasslands. 2. Differences in the two communities of Lumbricids living on either side of this fence have been investigated by means of pit-fall traps and patterns of dung-pats. 3. All species, except two which were obtained in very small numbers, were caught in significantly different numbers on the grazed and ungrazed ground. A. caliginosa was dominant with L. rubellus sub-dominant on the grazed, and on the ungrazed E. tetraedra was dominant with A. caliginosa, the B. tenuis, D. rubida-subrubicunda complex, and 0. cyaneum sharing sub-dominance. 4. The seasonal fluctuations in surface activity are somewhat similar in both communities, with peaks occurring in October-November, and in April-May. These fluctuations are related to air temperature and rainfall data. Proportionately more pigmented earthworms than unpigmented seem to move on the surface of the soil than are present in the body of the soil (the influence of dung-pats being taken into account). 5. The annual reproductive cycle (measured by the percentage of clitellum-bearing individuals in the monthly catches) is seen to be basically different in the communities in the grazed and ungrazed ground. In the grazed ground reproduction is confined to winter and spring, while in the ungrazed it continues throughout the year with sharp peaks in mid-winter and spring. 6. The variation in numbers of earthworms in uniform grassland soil is great over short distances. Distribution is seen to be mainly heterogeneous, and wide variation can occur over distances of less than 1 metre. Variation is seen to be due to the existence of clusters usually of a single species.
- Subjects
LUMBRICIDAE; EARTHWORMS; HAPLOTAXIDA; ALLOLOBOPHORA; ECOLOGY; GRASSLANDS; WORMS
- Publication
Oikos, 1957, Vol 8, Issue 2, p107
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3564995