Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos

The vertical distribution of native earthworm species from natural and disturbed savannas in the Oxisols of the Colombian Llanos was assessed in a native savanna and in a 17-year-old grazed grass-legume pasture during a period of 17?months. Different patterns of vertical stratification were observed...

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Autores principales: Jiménez Jaén, J.J., Decaëns, Thibaud
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2000
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44222
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author Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
author_browse Decaëns, Thibaud
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
author_facet Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
author_sort Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The vertical distribution of native earthworm species from natural and disturbed savannas in the Oxisols of the Colombian Llanos was assessed in a native savanna and in a 17-year-old grazed grass-legume pasture during a period of 17?months. Different patterns of vertical stratification were observed for all species with a strong migration of populations to deeper layers in the dry season. The correlation between the size of the earthworms and the average depth at which they were found was not significant (P>0.05), despite the fact that bigger species are located deeper in the soil. The living habits and adaptive strategies of the smallest species, Ocnerodrilidae n. sp., found in both ecosystems studied are responsible for this pattern. This endogeic species is associated with organic pools generated by an anecic species and further studies should assess the role of this species in ecosystem functioning. Mature worms of one anecic species were located deeper than immature ones in the soil (P<0.01). Soil moisture had an important effect on the vertical distribution of earthworms, although differences between immature and mature worms of the anecic Martiodrilus carimaguensis are likely to be of biotic origin. New data on the biology and ecology of these Neotropical species are shown.
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spelling CGSpace442222024-08-27T10:36:26Z Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos Jiménez Jaén, J.J. Decaëns, Thibaud soil fauna lumbricidae savannas fauna del suelo sabanas The vertical distribution of native earthworm species from natural and disturbed savannas in the Oxisols of the Colombian Llanos was assessed in a native savanna and in a 17-year-old grazed grass-legume pasture during a period of 17?months. Different patterns of vertical stratification were observed for all species with a strong migration of populations to deeper layers in the dry season. The correlation between the size of the earthworms and the average depth at which they were found was not significant (P>0.05), despite the fact that bigger species are located deeper in the soil. The living habits and adaptive strategies of the smallest species, Ocnerodrilidae n. sp., found in both ecosystems studied are responsible for this pattern. This endogeic species is associated with organic pools generated by an anecic species and further studies should assess the role of this species in ecosystem functioning. Mature worms of one anecic species were located deeper than immature ones in the soil (P<0.01). Soil moisture had an important effect on the vertical distribution of earthworms, although differences between immature and mature worms of the anecic Martiodrilus carimaguensis are likely to be of biotic origin. New data on the biology and ecology of these Neotropical species are shown. 2000-12-13 2014-10-02T08:33:27Z 2014-10-02T08:33:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44222 en Limited Access Springer
spellingShingle soil fauna
lumbricidae
savannas
fauna del suelo
sabanas
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title_full Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title_fullStr Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title_full_unstemmed Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title_short Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos
title_sort vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the colombian llanos
topic soil fauna
lumbricidae
savannas
fauna del suelo
sabanas
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44222
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AT decaensthibaud verticaldistributionofearthwormsingrasslandsoilsofthecolombianllanos