EARTHWORM POPULATION RESPONSES TO DECIDUOUS FOREST SOIL ACIDITY AND VEGETATION COVER

This paper shows results of earthworm specimens and biomass investigation in relationship to vegetation cover and soil pH values in sixty plots in broadleaved forests of Gaume region, south Belgium. Standard combination of behavioural and direct methods to catch earthworm specimens were used during the fieldwork – soil and earthworm samples were taken to the lab for pH measurement and species determination. The investigation revealed no significant influence of vegetation cover, but the fact that pH very strongly influenced the density and biomass of earthworms. Variables number of earthworms and earthworm biomass were strongly correlated with each other; therefore only the biomass was used as dependent variable in the statistical tests.Results from this study are useful for updating data of species living in acid forests in Europe and for following studies on forest production and forests soil fertility.