Assemblage and distribution of pill millipedes
and earthworms in relation to soil edaphic features in the Western
Ghats and the west coast of India

doi:10.1007/s11703-010-0006-1

Front. Agric. China

2010, Vol. 4

Issue (2) : 243-250 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11703-010-0006-1

Research articles

Assemblage and distribution of pill millipedes and earthworms in relation to soil edaphic features in the Western Ghats and the west coast of India

Bombrana S. KADAMANNAYA¹,Kandikere R. SRIDHAR²,Kanale S. SREEPADA³,

1.Department of Zoology, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Mangalore University College, Madikeri 571 201, Karnataka, India; 2.Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India; 3.Department of Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India;

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Abstract Abundance and biomass of pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera) and earthworms in the forests and plantations of nine study sites in the southwestern India (Western Ghats, foothill of the Western Ghats and the west coast) were surveyed. Out of 10 morphospecies of pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera) recovered, four were identified, and the rest did not match with morphological and taxonomic descriptions. A maximum of five species of Arthrosphaera were recovered from the Western Ghat forests. In forests, the biomass of pill millipedes was higher than earthworms but lower in abundance. In plantations, both biomass and abundance of millipedes were higher than those of earthworms. None of the 12 soil edaphic features (moisture, bulk density, water-holding capacity, temperature, pH, conductivity, organic carbon, P, K, Ca, Mg and litter depth) significantly correlated with millipede biomass in the Western Ghat forests, nor were any soil features correlated with earthworm biomass in the west coast plantations. While all, except for soil moisture, were significantly correlated with earthworm biomass in the Western Ghat forests. In the Western Ghat plantations, the biomass of millipedes was significantly correlated with soil moisture, pH, organic carbon and minerals (P, K and Ca). In the west coast plantations, the biomass of millipedes was significantly correlated with moisture, water-holding capacity, organic carbon, Ca, and Mg, while, in the foothill plantations, only with temperature.

Keywords pill millipedes Arthrosphaera earthworms Western Ghats forests plantations biomass abundance

Issue Date: 05 June 2010

Cite this article:

Bombrana S. KADAMANNAYA,Kanale S. SREEPADA,Kandikere R. SRIDHAR. Assemblage and distribution of pill millipedes and earthworms in relation to soil edaphic features in the Western Ghats and the west coast of India[J]. Front. Agric. China, 2010, 4(2): 243-250.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/10.1007/s11703-010-0006-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/Y2010/V4/I2/243

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