Impacts of Various Habitats, Soil Types, and the Range of Soil Physicochemical Variables on Earthworm Abundance Procured from the Poonch Division, Pakistan: Habitat and Soil Influences on Earthworm Abundance in Poonch

Muhammad Umar Khan; Saiqa Andleeb; Muhammad Fiaz Khan; Rozina Ghulam Mustafa

doi:10.54393/mjz.v6i4.180

Authors

Muhammad Umar Khan Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
Saiqa Andleeb Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Fiaz Khan Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
Rozina Ghulam Mustafa Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/mjz.v6i4.180

Keywords:

Earthworms, Habitat Types, Soil Physicochemical Properties, Functional Groups, Soil Biodiversity

Abstract

The present study concerns the effects of various habitats, soil types, and the range of soil physicochemical variables on the earthworm species obtained in Poonch division, Pakistan. Objectives: The study aimed to determine how various habitats, soils, and soil physicochemical situations influence the diversity and abundance of earthworm species. Methods: This study employed a descriptive observational design to examine the abundance and diversity of earthworm species across different habitats and soil types, alongside associated soil physicochemical properties, in Poonch Division, Pakistan. Earthworm species were collected by hand sorting and digging at 18 various study sites. Results: A total of (n = 11) species of earthworms, each belonging to eight genera and two families, were found. Out of them, the majority have been eminently found in municipal solid wastes, garden soil, and crop fields, whereas a few of them have a relatively high abundance in comparison to water resources, as compared to other species. These were various soil types observed, which are clay soil, debris soil, dry soil, loamy soil, moisture soil, and sandy soil, which also influences the availability of the earthworm species collected. Another study was the abundance of the earthworm in the various depths of soil. The proportion of the endogenic species was 38.7, epigenic 34.5, and Aneic species was 20.22, respectively. Also, the variety of physicochemical soil variables is different among the collected earthworm species. Conclusions: Current evidence shows that earthworm abundance depends on various habitats, the soil type, and abiotic entities of soils.

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