ABSTRACT
The present article documents the seasonal and site-specific abundance and distribution of earthworms in relation to the physico-chemical properties of soil and associated soil faunal assemblage within the green campus of heritage Bethune College, Kolkata, representing a mosaic of habitat patches characterised with contrasting landusage, vegetation and faunal components. Three (3) species of earthworms belonging to three (3) genera and two (2) families were identified from the sampled specimens. Metaphire posthuma topped the list during monsoon and Octochaetona surensis had lowest relative abundance during postmonsoon (relative abundance 42.6, 21.4 respectively). Habitat patch wise highest abundance (11%) was shown for Lampito mauritii at sports ground (SG) during postmonsoon. Sustainability of Earthworm populations was positively correlated with soil temperature, organic Carbon and soil moisture content, as reflected by Principal Component Analysis. Such a comprehensive study on earthworms is being recorded for the first time from this particular study site, which, in spite of situating in a totally urban backdrop, holds a rich floral and faunal composition and thus may be considered as a potential model habitat for urban biodiversity conservation in a metropolis.
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