蚯蚓野外采样方法评述

蚯蚓作为土壤生态系统的关键组成部分,不但可以改善土壤结构,而且与许多生物化学养分循环直接相关,对土壤质量改善和土壤生产力提高起到至关重要的作用.然而,蚯蚓野外采样方法的系统研究和评估还比较缺乏,在国内尤其少见.本文综述了目前国内外常见蚯蚓野外采样方法的操作过程、优缺点、有效性以及对蚯蚓种群特征研究结果可能产生的影响,认为在允许扰动土壤的区域,利用驱虫剂与手拣法相结合进行蚯蚓采样能够较为准确地反映蚯蚓种群和生物量的真实特征;在不能扰动土壤的区域异硫氰酸烯丙酯(AITC)溶液方法是最佳选择.     

茶枯溶液在蚯蚓采样中的应用

蚯蚓是陆地生态系统中重要的大型土壤动物之一,其种类组成、种群大小及群落结构在一定程度上可以反映当地的土壤状况.常用的蚯蚓采样方法如手挖、电击法、福尔马林法、芥末法、异硫氰酸丙烯酯法存在很多差异,各方法都存在一定缺点.本研究应用茶枯溶液进行蚯蚓采样,操作简便易行.试验结果表明,茶枯法在荷木林、马占林、马尾松林的单位面积所驱赶出的蚯蚓个体数依次为62.1、70.3、96.2 number m-2,各林区采样效率依次为80.1%、70.9%、75.8%;3林区平均个体数采样效率为75.3%.除内栖类蚯蚓西土寒宪蚓外,其他蚯蚓种均能完全被驱赶采样;未能采样蚯蚓大部分为西土寒宪蚓幼体;在进入干季11月份采样效率显著降低.     

不同蚯蚓采样方法对比研究

蚯蚓种类组成和丰度变化是反映农业管理措施对土壤质量影响的重要指标。为研究利用芥末悬液等方法进行蚯蚓样品采集的有效性和准确性,寻求合理有效的蚯蚓种群特征调查方法,在我国东北玉米连作黑土上分别运用手拣法、福尔马林溶液驱赶法、芥末+水悬液及芥末+乙酸悬液驱赶法,以及驱虫剂与手拣法相结合的方法进行蚯蚓样品采集,将上述7种方法测得的蚯蚓丰度、生物量及年龄组成信息进行了系统分析。结果表明,福尔马林溶液驱赶法不结合手拣法使用时测得的蚯蚓丰度及生物量远远低于其他方法,尤其幼年蚯蚓比例偏低,并不能反映真实的蚯蚓种群特征。使用芥末悬液做驱虫剂有效性明显提高,尤其芥末+乙酸悬液,测得的蚯蚓丰度比手拣法高22.3%。福尔马林溶液结合手拣法后有效性大大提高,测得的蚯蚓丰度和生物量分别是其单独使用时的19.1和9.3倍,但相对其他驱虫剂方法仍高估了成年蚯蚓的比例;芥末+水悬液和芥末+乙酸悬液方法结合手拣法后收集到蚯蚓的数量分别提高了67.8%和89.1%,平均个体重量分别是原来的1.8和1.3倍,说明芥末悬液不会杀死小个体的幼年蚯蚓,但少部分大个体蚯蚓及洞穴不与地表相接的蚯蚓可能并不能被其驱赶至地表,结合手拣法后可以弥补这个缺陷。芥末+乙酸悬液结合手拣法收集到的成年及幼年蚯蚓数量和生物量均显著高于其他方法(P<0.05),既能有效地驱赶小个体和幼年蚯蚓,又可以收集到洞穴不与地表相接的土栖型蚯蚓,因此可以作为真实有效地反映蚯蚓种群特征的采样方法之一。     

土壤养分循环实地采样调查方法

讨论了一种在区域尺度上研究生态系统中土壤养分循环的样区采样及调查方法.即在满足土壤养分循环研究所要求的代表性、重现性、随机性及时间性等原则的基础上,利用地形图及航空照片等资料,在区域中选定合适面积和数量的样区后,在各样区内按统一标准采集土壤和植物样品.考虑区域土壤养分循环受自然环境条件和社会经济条件等因素的制约,野外采样过程中有必要对采样单元的实地情况进行调查记载,并就样区内所有农户的基本状况、种植业结构及肥料投入等有关土壤养分循环的影响因子进行农户调查.对我国亚热带农业生态系统中土壤养分循环进行了案例研究,探讨了该采样调查方法在土壤养分循环研究中的应用.     

不同土壤培肥措施对华北高产农田生态系统蚯蚓种群的影响

通过在华北高产农田生态系统进行的土壤培肥试验 ,研究了不同秸秆还田方式和施肥措施对土壤大型动物——蚯蚓的影响。研究结果表明 :该区域高肥力土壤共有 7种蚯蚓 ,其中以正蚓科梯形流蚓为主 ,并同时分布巨蚓科的远盲蚓属、腔蚓属和链胃蚓科的杜拉蚓属的一些广布种。全年平均种群密度为 83.83条 /m2 ,最高种群数量出现在 1998年 8月份 ,其季节变化趋势为夏季 >春季 >秋冬季。在投入同量化肥条件下 ,有机物投入越多 ,蚯蚓越丰富 ,其生物量有以下趋势 :化肥投入 <化肥与麦秸还田 <化肥与玉米秸麦秸全还田 <化肥与玉米秸麦秸还田加施有机肥处理。在有有机物投入的条件下 ,化肥对土壤生物的负面效应不明显 ,不会对土壤中的蚯蚓有较大影响 ;而单施化肥 ,对蚯蚓负面影响较为显著。有机肥的施入可以增加蚯蚓的种群数量 ,随着时间的增加这种趋势越明显     

不同培肥措施对低肥力土壤生态系统蚯蚓种群数量的影响

通过在华北低肥力农田生态系统进行的不同土壤培肥试验 ,研究了不同秸秆还田方式和施肥措施对土壤中蚯蚓种群的影响。研究结果表明 :一年中 5次调查到的蚯蚓属于同一个目——后孔寡毛目 ,3科、6属、7种 ;在 7种蚯蚓中 ,天锡杜拉蚓Drawida gisti是该地区较低肥力土壤中的蚯蚓优势种。蚯蚓种群数量的季节变化趋势为 8月 >9月 >4月 >5月 >11月。在低肥力土壤上 ,单独施用化肥与对照相比可以增加蚯蚓的数量 ,施用化肥对蚯蚓的影响程度依赖于有机物的投入情况 ,没有有机物投入或只有麦秸还田条件下 ,施用化肥会对土壤中蚯蚓的种群数量产生负面影响 ,随着时间的延长 ,这种影响表现得比较明显。在同时用玉米秸和麦秸还田的情况下 ,施用化肥对蚯蚓的种群数量影响较小。有机肥的施入可以增加蚯蚓的种群数量 ,随着时间的延长这种趋势愈为明显。在几种秸秆还田的投入方式中 ,蚯蚓种群数量的大小次序为双倍麦还 >玉米麦秸全还 >麦还。因此在施用化肥的时候应当同时进行有机物投入 ,以保持土壤中良好的生物状况 ,这也是土壤培肥的重要环节。     

蚯蚓在生态系统中的作用

蚯蚓能够对许多决定土壤肥力的过程产生重要影响, 被称为“生态系统工程师”。它通过取食、消化、排泄和掘穴等活动在其体内外形成众多的反应圈, 从而对生态系统的生物、化学和物理过程产生影响。蚯蚓在生态系统中既是消费者、分解者, 又是调节者, 它在生态系统中的功能具体表现在: (1) 对土壤中有机质分解和养分循环等关键过程的影响; (2) 对土壤理化性质的影响; (3) 与植物、微生物及其他动物的相互作用。蚯蚓活动及其在生态系统中的功能受蚯蚓生态类群、种群大小、植被、母岩、气候、时间尺度以及土地利用历史的综合控制。蚯蚓外来种入侵与生态系统的关系以及蚯蚓对全球变化的响应和影响是两个值得关注的问题。土壤本身的复杂性, 蚯蚓自然历史和生物地理学知识的缺乏, 野外控制蚯蚓群落方法的滞后等都限制了蚯蚓生态学的发展。其他新技术如研究养分循环的碳氮同位素分析和揭示土壤微结构的图像分析等技术的应用是蚯蚓生态功能研究的迫切需要。     

华北高产农田生态系统中蚯蚓种群次生演替规律

通过对山东省桓台县不同土壤肥力的农田生态系统中蚯蚓种群的调查发现 ,该地区农田生态系统中有 7种蚯蚓 ,高肥力土壤中蚯蚓相对较丰富 ,种群密度可达 83.83条 / m2 ,梯形流蚓为优势种 ;低肥力土壤中蚯蚓种群密度 4 0 .18条 / m2 ,优势种是天锡杜拉蚓。梯形流蚓和湖北远盲蚓在高肥力土壤中的种群密度要明显高于低肥力土壤 ;而其他几种蚯蚓种群数量变化不大 ,随着土壤肥力的演变 ,低肥力土壤中天锡杜拉蚓的优势地位随着土壤肥力的提高逐渐被梯形流蚓所代替。合理的投入特别是农田有机物投入可以加速农田生态系统中生态演替 ;试验中不同处理间蚯蚓的种群生物量有以下趋势 :化肥投入 <化肥与麦秸还田 <化肥与玉米麦秸全还田 <化肥与玉米麦秸全还田以及有机肥的施用。无论在高肥力还是低肥力的土壤上都表现出相同的规律 ,但蚯蚓种群组成并没有明显差异     

帽儿山森林生态系统蚯蚓生态分布研究

蚯蚓本研究采用大型土壤动物手拣法和器测法 ,野外调查与室内实验相结合 ,揭示了帽儿山森林生态系统蚯蚓的生态分布规律及其与环境因子的相互关系。水平分布调查表明 ,白桦林的蚯蚓生物量和个体密度远低于其它 3个林型 ;地上垂直分布调查表明 ,蚯蚓生物量与个体密度从山谷到山顶逐渐增多。地下垂直结构调查表明 ,帽儿山地区蚯蚓分布的垂直结构表聚性明显。各种调查均揭示了蚯蚓种群大小随生境条件不同而变化 ,特别是水分条件 ,适合调查地区蚯蚓生存的土壤含水量范围大致为 4 0 %～ 6 5 %。     

蚯蚓在我国南方土壤修复中的应用

蚯蚓作为生物量最大的土壤动物, 对土壤生态系统和环境质量影响深远。本研究介绍了华南地区主要应用的皮质远盲蚓(Amynthas corticis)、毛利远盲蚓(A. morrisi)、壮伟远盲蚓(A. robustus)、参状远盲蚓(A. aspergillum)、南美岸蚓(Pontoscolex corethrurus)和赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)的生态特征, 阐述了它们与土壤pH值、酶活性、金属富集和有效性改变、孔道和微团聚体形成之间的紧密关系: (1)蚯蚓生存的土壤酸碱性范围较广(pH为3.8-7.9), 其存活率与土壤类型、有机质含量和成分、土壤污染程度和蚯蚓种类相关; (2)肠道内、蚓粪和蚓触圈的酶活性分别表征了蚯蚓取食喜好、土壤养分循环及微生物种群特征; (3)蚯蚓能够富集不同种类的金属并改变其有效性, 这些变化具有蚓种间、金属种类间和土壤类型之间的差异; (4)蚯蚓活动及其生产的蚓粪能改变土体结构、产生孔道、影响土壤团聚体数量、大小和分布。蚯蚓的上述作用使其在解决中国南方红壤酸化、土壤金属污染、茶园土壤养分不平衡、高速公路建设临时用地土壤损毁等方面具有广阔的应用前景。目前, 由于华南远盲蚓的生理特征差异研究较少, 远盲蚓繁育技术的缺乏一定程度上限制了这些蚯蚓在中型和大型尺度下应用技术的研究和推广。有必要进一步挖掘蚯蚓在土壤修复中的潜力, 进行蚯蚓主导的相关技术研发, 深入探讨其影响机制。     

Appraisal of the electrical octet method for estimating earthworm populations in arable land

Quantitative methods are needed for the assessment of the size and composition of earthworm communities. A poorly documented electrical sampling method, Thielemann's octet method, was compared with two long‐established methods, formalin extraction and soil hand sorting, in conventional and direct‐drilled wheat cropping systems at two sites with medium to heavy textured soils in Ireland. Under all agronomic conditions tested, the electrical method extracted significantly higher earthworm numbers than formalin, but earthworm biomasses were not significantly different. When used routinely over two years during periods of high earthworm activity, the electrical method yielded community estimates that were comparable in both size and species composition to those obtained by soil hand sorting (25 cm depth), except in recently ploughed land. However, Murchieona minuscule, a minute endogeic species, was underestimated by electrical extraction. It is concluded that the electrical octet method can be a reliable and useful alternative to other dynamic methods for estimating earthworm populations, especially in situations where minimum soil disturbance is desirable.     

Spatio–temporal structure of earthworm community and soil heterogeneity in a tropical pasture

The spatio–temporal structure of an earthworm community was assessed in a tropical Colombian pasture and compared with the patterns of soil heterogeneity. Earth–worms were sampled at six dates during a period of one year, while soil properties were assessed at a single date at the end of this period. Sample design was spatially explicit and consisted in a regular grid of 5 m mesh. At each date, 120 samples were taken for earthworm evaluations, while the single soil sampling consisted in 60 points, Multivariate and geostatistical analyses were performed to describe the spatial structure of collected data. Mantel and partial ManteTs tests were used to assess the links between the spatio-temporal patterns of earthworm distribution and soil heterogeneity.
The results clearly demonstrated the existence of structured spatial patterns in the earthworm community which were stable in time, at least at the temporal scale concerned by the study period, it mostly corresponded to an alternation of patches where particular species assemblages dominated. The ecological significance of these assemblages is discussed. Soil properties also displayed a significant spatial organisation. Only a small part of the spatio–temporal structures of earthworm distribution was correlated with soil properties. Small species were more abundant in patches where soil was more compact, while large species were associated with high root biomass and total C levels. The question whether earthworm spatio–temporal distribution induces similar patterns in soil properties or the contrary occurs is discussed. Our results suggest that earthworm community organisation mostly corresponds to a non–equilibrium system where mobile earthworm populations influence soil properties. The overall effect of earthworm community on soil is difficult to assess due to the predominance of factors that preferentially express tbetnselves at large scales in the ecological hierarchy.     

The “deduction” approach: A non-invasive method for estimating secondary production of earthworm communities

Secondary production is an important parameter for the study of population dynamics and energy flow through animal communities. Secondary production of earthworm communities has been determined with the size-frequency and instantaneous growth rate methods, whereby earthworm populations are repeatedly sampled at regular intervals and the change in biomass of cohorts or individuals between sampling dates is determined. The major disadvantage of repeated sampling is that it disturbs the soil and permanently removes earthworms from the study area. The “deduction” approach is a theoretical model that partitions individuals into defined pools and makes assumptions about the growth, recruitment and mortality of each pool. In 2004 and 2005, earthworms were added to undisturbed field enclosures and the “deduction” approach was used to estimate secondary production of the indigenous and added earthworm populations during the crop growing period (17–18 weeks) in each year. Secondary production estimates made by the “deduction” approach were similar to estimates from direct earthworm sampling in temperate agroecosystems. The “deduction” approach is an indirect method that estimates population dynamics and secondary production, and is appropriate for manipulation experiments where removal of organisms and physical disturbance of the habitat by repeated sampling could bias results.     

Stability of the spatio-temporal distribution and niche overlap in neotropical earthworm assemblages

The spatial distribution of soil invertebrates is aggregated with high-density patches alternating with low-density zones. A high degree of spatio-temporal organization generally exists with identified patches of specific species assemblages, in which species coexist according to assembly rules related to competitive mechanisms for spatial and trophic resources occur. However, these issues have seldom been addressed. The spatio-temporal structure of a native earthworm community in a natural savanna and a grass–legume pasture in the Colombian “Llanos” was studied during a 2-year-period. A spatially explicit sampling design (regular grid) was used to discern the distribution pattern of species assemblages in both systems. Earthworms were collected from small soil pits at three different sampling dates. Data collected from 1 m² soil monoliths were also used in the present study. Data were analyzed with the partial triadic analysis (PTA) and correlograms, while niche overlap was computed with the Pianka index. The PTA and correlogram analysis revealed that earthworm communities displayed a similar stable spatial structure in both systems during the 2-year study period. An alternation of population patches where different species' assemblages dominated was common to all sampling dates. The medium-sized Andiodrilus sp. and Glossodrilus sp. exhibited a clear spatial opposition in natural savanna and the grass–legume pasture for the duration of the study. The Pianka index showed a high degree of niche overlapping in several dimensions (vertical distribution, seasonality of population density) between both species. The inclusion of space-time data analysis tools as the PTA and the use of classical ecological indices (Pianka) in soil ecology studies may improve our knowledge of earthworm assemblages' dynamics.     

Stability of the spatio-temporal distribution and niche overlap in neotropical earthworm assemblages

The spatial distribution of soil invertebrates is aggregated with high-density patches alternating with low-density zones. A high degree of spatio-temporal organization generally exists with identified patches of specific species assemblages, in which species coexist according to assembly rules related to competitive mechanisms for spatial and trophic resources occur. However, these issues have seldom been addressed. The spatio-temporal structure of a native earthworm community in a natural savanna and a grass–legume pasture in the Colombian “Llanos” was studied during a 2-year-period. A spatially explicit sampling design (regular grid) was used to discern the distribution pattern of species assemblages in both systems. Earthworms were collected from small soil pits at three different sampling dates. Data collected from 1 m² soil monoliths were also used in the present study. Data were analyzed with the partial triadic analysis (PTA) and correlograms, while niche overlap was computed with the Pianka index. The PTA and correlogram analysis revealed that earthworm communities displayed a similar stable spatial structure in both systems during the 2-year study period. An alternation of population patches where different species' assemblages dominated was common to all sampling dates. The medium-sized Andiodrilus sp. and Glossodrilus sp. exhibited a clear spatial opposition in natural savanna and the grass–legume pasture for the duration of the study. The Pianka index showed a high degree of niche overlapping in several dimensions (vertical distribution, seasonality of population density) between both species. The inclusion of space-time data analysis tools as the PTA and the use of classical ecological indices (Pianka) in soil ecology studies may improve our knowledge of earthworm assemblages' dynamics.     

两种代表性蚯蚓对设施菜地土壤微生物群落结构及理化性质的影响

不同生态型蚯蚓的取食偏好和生境有所差异,因此蚯蚓的生态型差异可能关乎其对土壤性质的不同影响;有关不同生态型蚯蚓对土壤性质尤其是微生物学性质影响的研究有助于了解蚯蚓生态功能的作用机制。在野外调控试验的第4年采集土壤,研究了牛粪混施和表施处理下内层种威廉腔环蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)和表层种赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)对设施菜地土壤微生物群落结构和主要理化性质的影响。结果表明,土壤微生物群落结构同时受到蚯蚓种类和牛粪施用方式的影响。牛粪表施时,两种蚯蚓均显著降低了菌根真菌、真菌生物量和原生动物生物量(P0.05);牛粪混施时,不同蚯蚓的影响有所差异,威廉腔环蚓明显增加了菌根真菌、真菌生物量和放线菌生物量,而赤子爱胜蚓的作用不明显。此外,两种蚯蚓均提高了土壤孔隙度、团聚体稳定性和土壤p H、矿质氮以及微生物生物量碳氮水平,但提高幅度取决于蚯蚓种类和牛粪施用方式。冗余分析表明蚯蚓影响下土壤微生物群落结构的变化与团聚体稳定性、p H、速效磷、矿质氮呈正相关,而与土壤容重呈负相关。     

Effects of Alpine land‐use changes: Soil macrofauna community revisited

Although soil invertebrates play a decisive role in maintaining ecosystem functioning, little is known about their structural composition in Alpine soils and how their abundances are affected by the currently ongoing land‐use changes. In this study, we re‐assessed the soil macrofauna community structure of managed and abandoned Alpine pastureland, which has already been evaluated 14 years earlier. Our results confirm clear shifts in the community composition after abandonment, in that (1) Chilopoda and Diplopoda were recorded almost exclusively on the abandoned sites, (2) Coleoptera larvae and Diptera larvae were more abundant on the abandoned than on the managed sites, whereas (3) Lumbricidae dominated on the managed sites. By revisiting managed and abandoned sites, we infer community patterns caused by abandonment such as changes in the epigeic earthworm community structure, and we discuss seasonal and sampling effects. Our case study improves the still limited understanding of spatio‐temporal biodiversity patterns of Alpine soil communities.     

The effect of earthworms on plant diversity and soil properties under different landuses

Earthworms have significant effect on vegetation and soil physical and chemical properties. The relationship between earthworms and biodiversity is important in ecological researches. Therefore, the effects of earthworm on plant diversity and various indices of diversity and richness, as well as physical and chemical properties of soil in shrub, grass and bare vegetation types on exclosure and grazing sites of Miankaleh Mazandaran biosphere reserve is investigated in this work. Accordingly, sampling was carried out randomly-systematically in three different vegetative types (shrubs, grass and bare soil) at 0 to 20 cm depth. Each vegetative types was placed on three transects of 100 m, 10 plots at a distance of 30 m. Earthworm and soil were sampled from the center of each plot of 25 cm × 25 cm. The Simpson and Shannon-Wiener indexes and Margalef and Menhinick richness indices were used to evaluate diversity and richness of species at different grazing intensities. Stepwise regression was used to study the relationship between diversity and richness indices with different earthworm parameters. The results showed that there was significant difference of potassium and nitrogen in vegetation types of both exclosure and grazing sites at P ≤ .01. Furthermore, the organic carbon, organic matter and potassium in the exclosure site and nitrogen and soil moisture in the grazing site are increased by earthworm abundance.     

Exotic earthworms dispersion through protected forest areas and their potential impacts on nitrous oxide production

It is generally accepted that human activities are responsible for the dispersal of exotic earthworms in northeastern North America. We know little, however, about the relative effects of concurrent human activities on the structure of these earthworm communities in protected forest areas, nor on their impacts on soil biological activities. Our first objective was to infer the relative importance of recreational fishing and road traffic on the structure of Lumbricidae communities in Mont-Tremblant National Park, the oldest conservation area in the province of Quebec, Canada. Our second objective was to test the relationship between earthworm species abundances and soil properties related to microbial and nitrogen dynamics. We sampled earthworm communities around 61 lakes, which included 23 heavily-fished lakes and 20 non-fished lakes located near roads, as well as 18 non-fished lakes located in remote areas of the park. Our results revealed that fishing and proximity to roads both have a positive effect on the abundance of earthworms, as does the soil pH. Fishing activities had a greater effect than road proximity on the abundance and diversity of earthworm communities, notably on the abundance of the anecic species Lumbricus terrestris. To assess at a finer scale the effects of earthworm community structure on soil microbial and nitrogen dynamics, we collected and analyzed soils from 47 sampling points around two lakes with high earthworm densities. Exploratory redundancy analysis found a negative correlation between epigeic and anecic earthworm species, with the former correlating positively to microbial biomass and the latter correlating positively to nitrification and denitrification. Confirmatory path analysis established a positive indirect effect of Lumbricus terrestris, the preferred fishing bait, on potential soil nitrous oxide emissions. We conclude that the human-mediated dispersion of earthworms in the most pristine ecosystems of Quebec affects ecosystem functioning and thus requires a review of current policies regarding the use of live-bait by fishermen.