<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Studies reveal that not up to 50% of earthworm species have been described in the world and the understanding of earthworm diversity is finite in most countries including Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the diversity of earthworms and environmental factors affecting their abundance. Earthworms were collected from three (3) different sampling locations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Descriptive statistics and estimation of species abundance, dominance and diversity were used to analyze the data obtained from the study. From the study, four (4) species of earthworms were identified and recorded from the three sampling locations. <italic>Eudrilus eugeniae</italic> (54.9%) was the most abundant species followed by <italic>Hyperidrilus africanus</italic> (20.3%), <italic>Libyodrilus violaceous</italic> (19.6%) and <italic>Alma millsoni</italic> (6.3%) with the least abundant species. The result of the diversity indices showed Science village (1.13) as the most diverse habitat followed by Emelda hostel (0.86) and Boys’ hostel (0.84) with the least diversity of species. Soil pH ranged from 2.25 to 4.06 and total organic matter ranged from 14.10 to 16.36%. Soil temperature was uniform with an average value of 27°C for the three sampling locations. The soil moisture content ranged from 11.19 to 14.12%. The conductivity recorded the lowest value (25.60μS/cm) in Emelda Hostel and highest value (111.8 μS/cm) in Science village. The study provided understanding into the patterns of earthworm populations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the need for the conservation of earthworm diversity. Better understanding about habitat and living conditions of earthworms is required to provide suitable and enhanced production of vermicompost in different geographic conditions.</p></abstract>

Studies reveal that not up to 50% of earthworm species have been described in the world and the understanding of earthworm diversity is finite in most countries including Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the diversity of earthworms and environmental factors affecting their abundance. Earthworms were collected from three (3) different sampling locations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Descriptive statistics and estimation of species abundance, dominance and diversity were used to analyze the data obtained from the study. From the study, four (4) species of earthworms were identified and recorded from the three sampling locations. Eudrilus eugeniae (54.9%) was the most abundant species followed by Hyperidrilus africanus (20.3%), Libyodrilus violaceous (19.6%) and Alma millsoni (6.3%) with the least abundant species. The result of the diversity indices showed Science village (1.13) as the most diverse habitat followed by Emelda hostel (0.86) and Boys’ hostel (0.84) with the least diversity of species. Soil pH ranged from 2.25 to 4.06 and total organic matter ranged from 14.10 to 16.36%. Soil temperature was uniform with an average value of 27°C for the three sampling locations. The soil moisture content ranged from 11.19 to 14.12%. The conductivity recorded the lowest value (25.60μS/cm) in Emelda Hostel and highest value (111.8 μS/cm) in Science village. The study provided understanding into the patterns of earthworm populations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the need for the conservation of earthworm diversity. Better understanding about habitat and living conditions of earthworms is required to provide suitable and enhanced production of vermicompost in different geographic conditions.

Diversity of Earthworms in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology

Centre for Environmental Management and Control

Annals of Science and Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Diversity of Earthworms in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka"}

Studies reveal that not up to 50% of earthworm species have been described in the world and the understanding of earthworm diversity is finite in most...

Diversity of Earthworms in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Published Online: Dec 31, 2019

Page range: 39 - 45

Received: Feb 19, 2019

Accepted: Jul 27, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2019-0009

Keywords
Abundance, Earthworm, Environmental factors, Habitat, Vermicomposition

© 2019 C.O. Okoye et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Diversity of Earthworms in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Published Online: Dec 31, 2019

Page range: 39 - 45

Received: Feb 19, 2019

Accepted: Jul 27, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2019-0009

KeywordsAbundance, Earthworm, Environmental factors, Habitat, Vermicomposition

© 2019 C.O. Okoye et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Abundance, Earthworm, Environmental factors, Habitat, Vermicomposition