Development of earthworm communities in translocated grasslands at Manchester Airport, UK

摘要

The aim of this work was to assess density, biomass and species composition of earthworm communities within four translocated grasslands at Runway 2, Manchester Airport. Results from this study also evaluated the availability of earthworms as a food source for displaced, protected vertebrate species. The sites studied differed in topography and method/type of soil/turf transfer Earthworms were extracted by digging and hand sorting of soil from replicated 0.1 m(2) plots, followed by vermifuge application. Monitoring from 1998-2001 produced nine species of earthworm representing all three ecological groupings. Throughout, areas supplied with turf contained significantly (P < 0.05) more earthworms with greater mass than adjacent areas supplied with soil only. Areas of hummocks and adjacent wet hollows, both covered with the same translocated turf, differed in species composition. Data are presented for mean earthworm community density and mass over the sampling period. Across all sites, figures for density and mass (in 2001), ranged from 50-427 m(-2) and 12-128 g m(-2) respectively. In all sampled areas, density and mass of earthworms has either increased or remained relatively stable, suggesting each translocation method to be successful after 4 years.