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Diversity of Earthworms in Different Land Use Systems of Kottayam District, Kerala, India

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Earthworm fauna of land use systems such as forests, grasslands, rubber plantations, home gardens, and paddy fields of Kottayam district, Kerala state, were studied in detail. Nineteen species belonging to ten genera and six families were identified. Among these, seven are Kerala endemic, two near-endemic, five are native peregrines, and five are exotic peregrines. The study revealed the differential distribution of earthworms in various land use systems. Of the total species recorded, the exotic invasive species Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) was present in all the observed land use systems. Species richness in the home garden was found higher compared to other land use categories. Home garden constitutes twelve species followed by rubber (8), paddy (7), forest and grassland (5 species each). Species such as Drawida impertusa Stephenson, 1920, Moniligaster blakemorei Narayanan & Julka, 2021, M. keralensis Narayanan & Julka, 2021, Eukerria kuekenthali (Michaelsen, 1908), Dichogaster affinis (Michaelsen, 1890), Megascolex avicula Aiyer, 1929, M. polytheca uniquus Aiyer, 1929, M. peermadensis Aiyer, 1929, Lampito mauritii Kinberg, 1867 and G. annandalei Michaeksen, 1910 were recorded for the first time from Kottayam district. The study also noticed the absence of two species, Argilophilus variabilis (Aiyer, 1929) and Ocnerodrilus occidentalis Eisen, 1878, which were previously recorded from Kottayam district, Kerala.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Kerala, for providing the sanction and necessary facilities. We would like to thank many of our colleagues in the department for the help offered during the fieldwork and also Mr. Naveen Babu for preparing the map. The first author wishes to acknowledge the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapuram, for the fellowship provided.

Funding

Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB), 838/A1/2016/KSBB, R. Anuja.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India

    R. Anuja

  2. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam, Kerala, 686 560, India

    S. Prasanth Narayanan, S. Sathrumithra & A. P. Thomas

  3. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, Solan, 173 212, India

    J. M. Julka

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  1. R. Anuja
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  2. S. Prasanth Narayanan
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  4. A. P. Thomas
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  5. J. M. Julka
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Correspondence to R. Anuja.

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Significance Statement

Diversity studies on earthworms were not reported so far from the district of Kottayam. Only a few sporadic studies on earthworms have been reported earlier by Aiyer, and Narayanan et al. Hence, the present work is an attempt to scientifically update the investigation, identification, and documentation of contemporary earthworm fauna of the Kottayam district.

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Anuja, R., Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S. et al. Diversity of Earthworms in Different Land Use Systems of Kottayam District, Kerala, India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 93, 27–44 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-022-01397-5

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