The enchytraeid assemblage (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) of a Sandhill prairie site in Nebraska, USA
Keywords:
Enchytraeidae, community structure, grassland, North America soil, soil faunaAbstract
Hitherto the enchytraeid fauna of North American prairie and other types of grassland remains unknown. In March 2011 soil samples were taken in a Sandhill prairie habitat used as rangeland, close to Grand Island, Nebraska. Enchytraeids were extracted by the wet funnel method and identified alive. The total enchytraeid density was 3400 ± 800 individuals/m2 (± SE); 70 % of the individuals were present in the upper 3 cm of soil (sampling depth: 12 cm). The assemblage consisted of at least six species, the identity of four could be ascertained. Bryodrilus librus (Nielsen & Christensen, 1959) was predominant, followed by Fridericia bulboides Nielsen & Christensen, 1959. For B. librus this is the southern-most reported locality within its known range. Also present was Enchytraeus dichaetus Schmelz & Collado, 2010, the occurrence of which in North America had been published once before from Canada without any details on its locality. The rather poor assemblage might be the result of a harsh climate and drought-sensitive sandy soil.
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