Earthworm diversity and abundance in different habitats at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata

Abstract

An ecological survey of earthworms was conducted at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata for the period of one year during August 2016-July 2017. The aim of the present study is to determine the abundance and diversity of earthworms under different land use pattern. Earthworms were collected from three different sites in SRFTI based on environment niches like grasslands, residential areas, bank of the water bodies etc., by hand sorting method. Total 8 species of earthworms were identified from 537 specimens collected and abundance plot of earthworm species were arranged by rank. The highest relative abundance of Metaphire posthuma found at the bank of water bodies, Metaphire peguana and Metaphire posthuma in residential areas and Metaphire peguana in grassland habitat, whereas the lowest relative abundance of Metaphire houlleti found in all the habitats. The highest number of species and genera were recorded in the residential areas, the least in grassland habitat. The diversity value also was highest in the residential areas with the lowest in grassland habitat. Though the highest evenness value found in the bank of the water bodies. The Dominance (d) Index value was the highest in grassland habitat with the lowest in the residential areas. The highest similarity was observed between bank of water bodies and grassland habitat.