Distribution characteristics of earthworms in different climatic zones of Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202502.031

Abstract

Abstract: Earthworms, as large soil animals, play a crucial role in soil ecological functions. We investigated the spatial distribution characteristics of earthworms by collecting 1984 earthworm individuals from six climatic zones in Yunnan Province. The results showed that Octolasion tyrtaeum and Aporrectodea trapezoides were the dominant earthworm species in Yunnan Province. The highest diversity of earthworm species was found in the temperate zone, followed by the northern tropics, northern subtro-pics, central subtropics, plateau climatic zone, and southern subtropics. In terms of density, the order was plateau climatic zone (70.7 ind·m^-2) > temperate zone (62.4 ind·m^-2) > northern subtropics (55.9 ind·m^-2) > northern tropics (37.7 ind·m^-2) > central subtropics (37.7 ind·m^-2) > southern subtropics (22.7 ind·m^-2). Regarding biomass, the order was northern subtropics (27.4 g·m^-2) > northern tropics (24.5 g·m^-2) > southern subtropics (19.1 g·m^-2) > temperate zone (17.0 g·m^-2) > central subtropics (15.3 g·m^-2) > plateau climatic zone (12.5 g·m^-2). Climate zones exerted a direct influence on the biomass of earthworms. Furthermore, soil characteristics, including soil moisture, organic matter, and total nitrogen content significantly impacted earthworm communities.

Key words: earthworm; soil quality; population composition; spatial distribution characteristics; climatic zone

LUO Qingrui, LI Hongyang, XIAO Yanlan, ZI Yufen, DUAN Changqun, LIU Chang’e. Distribution characteristics of earthworms in different climatic zones of Yunnan Province, Southwest China.[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2025, 36(2): 569-577.

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