Structure and Diversity of Earthworm Communities along a Gradient of Aridity in Northeastern Algeria

Karim  Bouazdia; Haroun  Chenchouni

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i1.173264

Authors

Karim Bouazdia Department of Living Beings, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Nature and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa, 12000 Tebessa, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7855-3153
Haroun Chenchouni Laboratory of Natural Resources and Management of Sensitive Environments (LRNAMS), University of Oum El Bouaghi, 04000 Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9077-2706

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i1.173264

Keywords:

Earthworms, species richness, biodiversity, biomass, similarity analysis, Algeria

Abstract

Earthworms are essential soil engineers that contribute to nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and soil fertility. Despite their ecological and agricultural importance, data on earthworm diversity and community structure in Algeria remain scarce, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study aimed to document the abundance, biomass, and diversity of earthworm communities in Tebessa region (northeastern Algeria), and to assess how climate and habitat types influence their distribution. Earthworm sampling was conducted across six sites representing different climatic zones (desert, Thermomediterranean with short dry season [Th.Med–], and Thermomediterranean with long dry season [Th.Med+]) and habitats (field, wadi, and pasture). Soil blocks of 30 × 30 × 30 cm were excavated and earthworms were hand-sorted, counted, and classified into developmental stages. Morphometric traits, abundance, biomass, and diversity indices (species richness, Shannon, evenness, and reciprocal Simpson) were analyzed. A total of 1,575 individuals were collected, of which 395 were adults with a developed clitellum. Six species belonging to Lumbricidae were identified, with Eisenia tetraedra, Octodrilus complanatus, and Aporrectodea molleri recorded for the first time in Tebessa. Species richness and diversity were higher in Th.Med+ and Th.Med– climates than in the desert, while field habitats supported the greatest abundance and biomass. Aporrectodea caliginosa dominated in terms of biomass, particularly in Th.Med+ zones. Similarity analyses revealed closer affinities between field and pasture communities. Rarefaction analyses indicated a plateau at six species for Th.Med– and field habitats, whereas desert sites remained depauperate with only two species. Earthworm diversity in arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria is low, reflecting the constraints of arid conditions, yet certain agricultural habitats sustain relatively rich communities. These findings provide baseline knowledge for arid regions of Algeria and highlight the potential use of earthworms as indicators of soil quality and sustainable land management.

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