Ecology and Distribution of Earthworms in India: A Systematic Review
Journal Title: International Journal of Biological Innovations - Year 2023, Vol 5, Issue 1
Abstract
One of the most significant biotic fauna, an ecological engineer, and a biological indicator of the soil are earthworms, also known as farmer's friends. They play an important role in the mineralization and decomposition of organic matter, and recycling of organic wastes, leading to improvement in soil structure and fertility. They facilitate the increase of microbial biomass and activity, as well as the mobilization of nutrients, by broadening the surface area of organic compounds. The diversity, population size, and spatial arrangement of earthworm species may be used as indicators of the soil and weather conditions within a given geographical region. They function as bioindicators, aiding in the comprehension of the physico-chemical characteristics of their environment. The density and stratification in both horizontal and vertical directions contribute to the process of pedogenesis and formation of soil profiles. These organisms exhibit lower occurrence rates in soils that have undergone disturbance and tend to manifest activity solely under conditions of adequate moisture. The present article provides a comprehensive overview of the ecological characteristics and geographical distribution of earthworms across various habitats in diverse regions of India.
Authors and Affiliations
Pankaj Kumar Singh and Keshav Singh
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP729404
- DOI https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2023.5114
- Views 48
- Downloads 0
Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity: An Overview
Biodiversity is the 'Full variety of Life on Earth'. It includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystem. Biodiversity plays an important role in climate regulation. Biodiversity conservation will lea...
Incredible Benefits of Exotic Kiwano (Horned Melon) for Wellness, Vigour and Vitality
The kiwano belongs to the Cucumber family. The alien looking fruit has similarities with Pomegranate and Passion fruit in its texture and is a traditional food plant in the African continent. Its increasing popularity i...
Diversity of Parthenium hysterophorus and associated weeds in the Chitrakoot District
Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Carrot grass) is an annual herb of neotropical origin that now has a serious problem and pantropical distribution. It was first reported in India in 1950 at Pune (Maharashtra). This weed is...
Floristic diversity and Ethnobotany of Family Asteraceae of District Bhiwani (Haryana), India.
The present paper deals with floristic diversity of plants belonging to family Asteraceae growing in district Bhiwani, Haryana, India. A sum of 36 species belonging to 26 genera of family Asteraceae was identified. Exp...
Alternative Methods Replacing Animal Testing in Research: An Overview
The discovery of new drugs involves their testing on animals for efficacy as well as safety before the approval. Millions of animals are being sacrificed to fulfill this need. But experimentation on animals during the p...