Ecological and Faunistic Analysis of Lumbricidae Species Composition of Natural Biogeocenoses and Man-made Territories

Abstract

Earthworms make up the bulk of the soil mesofauna and play an important role in the transformation of organic matter, the formation of the pedosphere, the regulation of the flows of matter, energy and information in ecosystems. In this research, we have studied the species composition of earthworms in urban and suburban ecosystems of the foothills of the Trans Ili-Alatau. As a result of the work, 11 species of the Lumbricidae family of the Oligochaeta class were discovered. 6 species out of them have been discovered in our Republic: Aporrectodea rosea, Lumbricus rubellus, Lumbricus castaneus, Octolasion lacteum, Dendrobaena octaedra and Aporrectodea caliginosa are widespread. The genus Lumbricus is the most common in terms of the number of individuals in the studied territories. Significant differences have been established in the species composition of earthworms in technogenic and natural biogeocenoses. The lumbricides are the absolute dominants in two ecosystems. Along with the species composition of earthworms, seasonal dynamics were also studied, it was found that their maximum activity is observed at the most favorable ratio of temperature and humidity.