Distribution and diversity of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in Hesse (Central Germany): current knowledge
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25674/bmwx-qs58Keywords:
Soil invertebrates, Annelida, Strict Forest Reserves, MonitoringAbstract
In 2016 the first Red List of German earthworms was compiled, listing 46 species. However, little is known about the biodiversity and distribution of Lumbricidae in the individual federal states of Germany. In some of them (e.g. Schleswig-Holstein) earthworm monitoring programs were performed (or are still running). In others no such soil-focused program has been performed so far. The aim of this contribution is to compile the available information on the distribution of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in the state of Hesse, using data from literature including own investigations. The main source is a long-term faunistic inventory made in Strict Forest Reserves, in which different traps were used over a period of two years for each site. Earthworms have also been sampled at other Hessian sites, for different reasons and with various methods within the last 50 years. This information was already compiled in the database Edaphobase. In total, we found data from 43 sites, mainly located in the north-eastern and eastern part of this state as well as around the city of Frankfurt in the south. In total, 25 species have been recorded representing 54 % of the German earthworm fauna. Noteworthy is Allolobophoridella eiseni (Levinsen, 1884), a species which is often overlooked since it lives on and below the bark of living and dead trees. In comparison to neighbouring countries such as The Netherlands or France, our knowledge on Hessian earthworms is considered to be poor. Thus, we recommend to perform an earthworm sampling program, using standard methods and assessment tools in order to get a detailed overview on the diversity and distribution of this functionally important group of soil invertebrates.
Downloads
References
Baltzer, R. (1956): Die Regenwürmer Westfalens. – Zoologisches Jahrbuch 84: 355–413.
Barth, N., W. Brandtner, E. Cordsen, T. Dann, K.-H. Emmerich, D. Feldhaus, B. Kleefisch, B. Schilling & J. Utermann (2000): Boden-Dauerbeobachtung - Einrichtung und Betrieb von Boden-Dauerbeobachtungsflächen. – In: Rosenkranz, D., G. Bachmann, W. König & G. Einsele (eds): Bodenschutz. Kennziffer 9152. – E. Schmidt Verlag, Berlin. Germany.
Beylich, A. & U. Graefe (2009): Investigations of annelids at soil monitoring sites in northern Germany: reference ranges and time-series data. – Soil Organisms 81: 175–196.
Bouché, M. B. (1972): Lombriciens de France. Écologie et systématique. – Annales de zoologie. Ecologie animale, hors série 72(2): 1–671.
Bouché, M. B. (1977): Stratégies lombriciennes. – In: Lohm, U. & T. Persson (eds): Soil organisms as components of ecosystems. – Ecological Bulletins NFR 25: 122–132.
Burkhardt, U., D. J., Russell, R. Buryn, P. Decker, M. Döhler, H. Höfer, J. Römbke, C. Trog, J. Vorwald, E. Wurst & W. E. Xylander (2014): The Edaphobase Project of GBIF-Germany – A new online soil-organism zoological data warehouse. – Applied Soil Ecology 83: 5–12.
Csuzdi, C. & A. Zicsi (2003): Earthworms of Hungary (Annelida: Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). – Pedozoologica Hungarica 1: 1–272.
Donnelly, R. K., G. L. Harper, A. J. Morgan, P. Orozco-Terwengel, G. A. Pinto-Juma, & M. W. Bruford (2013): Nuclear DNA recapitulates the cryptic mitochondrial lineages of Lumbricus rubellus and suggests the existence of cryptic species in an ecotoxicological soil sentinel. – Biol. J. Linnean Soc. 110: 780–795.
Dorow, W. H. O., G. Flechtner & J.-P. Kopelke (1992): Zoologische Untersuchungen — Konzept. Naturwaldreservate in Hessen 3. – Mitteilungen der Hessischen Landesforstverwaltung 26: 1–159.
Eggert, U. J. (1982): Vorkommen und Verbreitung der Regenwürmer (Lumbricidae) des Naturparks „Hoher Vogelsberg“. – Beiträge zur Naturkunde in Osthessen 18: 61–103.
Federschmidt, A. (1994): Die Oligochaetenfauna zweier Ökosysteme auf Lößlehm unter Berücksichtigung der Auswirkungen von Chemikalienstress. - Dissertation, Doctoral thesis, Universität Frankfurt: 319 pp.
Giska, I., P. Sechi & W. Babik (2015): Deeply divergent sympatric mitochondrial lineages of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus are not reproductively isolated. – BMC evolutionary biology 15: 13 pp.
Gnan, R. (2002): Analyse und Bewertung der Abundanz und des Artenspektrums von Regenwürmern (Lumbriciden) in den ackerbaulich genutzten Böden des Lehr- und Versuchsbetriebes Gladbacherhof. – Diploma thesis, University of Gießen, Germany: 96 pp.
Graff, O. (1953): Die Regenwürmer Deutschlands. – Schriftenreihe des Forschungsinstituts für Landwirtschaft 7: 1–70.
Hansen, P. L., M. Holmstrup, M. Bayley & V. Simonsen (2006): Low genetic variation for Dendrobaena octaedra from Greenland compared to populations from Europe and North America: Refuge or selection? – Pedobiologia 50: 225–234.
Hoeffner, K., C. Monard, M. Santonja & D. Cluzeau (2018): Feeding behavior of epi-anecic earthworm species and their impacts on soil microbial communities. – Soil Biology and Biochemistry 125: 1–9.
Höser, N. (2018): Interrelation of Proctodrilus species (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) with lessivage and layering in European soil profiles. – Zootaxa 4496: 96–110.
Höser, N. (2013): Zur Regenwurmfauna (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) in Wäldern Mecklenburgs. – Archiv der Freunde der Naturgeschichte Mecklenburgs 52: 75–85.
Höser, N. & A. Zicsi (2009): Eine neue Proctodrilus-Art (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) und ihr spezifisches Ökotop. - Contributions to Natural History (Bern) 12: 651–658.
IBV (Informations- und Koordinierungszentrum für Biologische Vielfalt) (2016): Datenbank Naturwaldreservate in Deutschland. – Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung [http://www.naturwaelder.de].
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (2018): Soil quality – sampling of soil invertebrates. Part 1: Hand-sorting and formalin extraction of earthworms. – ISO 23611-1: 1–26. Genève, Switzerland.
James, S.W., D. Porco, T. Decaens, B. Richard, R. Rougerie & C. Erseus (2010): DNA Barcoding reveals Cryptic Diversity in Lumbricus terrestris L., 1758 (Clitellata): Resurrection of L. herculeus (Savigny, 1826). – PLOS One, 5, 12, e15629: 1–8.
Jänsch, S., L. Steffens, H. Höfer, F. Horak, M. Roß-Nickoll, D. Russell, A. Toschki, & J. Römbke (2013): State of knowledge of earthworm communities in German soils as a basis for biological soil quality assessment. – Soil Organisms 85: 215–232 + Electronic Supplement.
King, R.A., A. L. Tibble & O. C. Symondson (2008): Opening a can of worms: unprecedented sympatric cryptic diversity within British lumbricid earthworms. – Molecular Ecology 17: 4694 – 4698.
Krück, S. (2018): Bildatlas zur Regenwurmbestimmung. – Natur + Text, Rangsdorf: 196 pp.
Lamparski, F. (1985): Der Einfluss der Regenwurmart Lumbricus badensis auf Waldböden im Südschwarzwald. Freiburger Bodenkundliche Abhandlungen 15: 205 pp.
Latif, R., M. Masoumeh & C. Csuzdi (2017): When morphology and DNA are discordant: Integrated taxonomic studies on the Eisenia fetida/andrei complex from different parts of Iran (Annelida, Clitellata: Megadrili). European Journal of Soil Biology 81: 55-63.
Lavelle, P., T. Decaëns, M. Aubert, S. Barot, M. Blouin, F. Bureau, P. Margerie, P. Mora & J-P. Rossi (2006): Soil invertebrates and ecosystem services. – European Journal of Soil Biology 42: S3–S15.
Lehmitz, R., J. Römbke, U. Graefe, A. Beylich & S. Krück (2016): Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der Regenwürmer (Lumbricidae et Criodrillidae) Deutschlands. – Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt 70(4): 565–590.
Lehmitz, R., J. Römbke, S. Jänsch, S. Krück, A. Beylich & U. Graefe (2014): Checklist of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) from Germany. – Zootaxa 3866: 221–245.
Lennig, A. (1989): Lumbricidenfauna im Frankfurter Stadtwald an Buchenwald-standorten unterschiedlicher Schädigung. - Project thesis/Semester thesis/Term paper, State examination thesis, University of Frankfurt, Germany: 69 pp.
Martinsson, S. & C. Erséus (2017): Cryptic speciation and limited hybridization within Lumbricus earthworms (Clitellata: Lumbricidae). – Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 106: 18–27.
Martinsson, S. & C. Erséus (2018): Hybridisation and species delimitation of Scandinavian Eisenia spp. (Clitellata: Lumbricidae). – European Journal of Soil Biology 88: 41–47.
Metzke, M., M. Potthoff, M. Quintern, J. Heß & R. Joergensen (2007): Effect of reduced tillage systems on earthworm communities in a 6-year organic rotation. – European Journal of Soil Biology 43: 209–215.
Meyer, E. & U. Plankensteiner (1995): Regenwürmer (Luinbricidae) in Waldböden Vorarlbergs (Österreich). – Berichte Naturwissenschaftlich-Medizinischer Verein Innsbruck 82: 95–103.
Michaelsen, W. (1900): Oligochaeta. - Das Tierreich X. – Friedländer & Sohn, Berlin: 575 pp.
Milutinovic, T., R. Tsekova, J. Milanovic & M. Stojanovic (2013): Distribution, biogeographical significance and status of Lumbricus meliboeus Rosa, 1884 (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) at the European scale: first findings in Serbia and in Bulgaria. – North-Western Journal of Zoology 9: 63–69.
Mršić, N. (1991): Monograph on earthworms (Lumbricidae) of the Balkans I–II. – Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti, Zazred za Naravoslovne Vede Opera, Ljubljana 31: 1–757.
Pelosi, C., L. Toutous, F. Chiron, F. Dubs, M. Hedde, A. Muratet, A., Ponge, J-F., Salmon, F. & D. Makowski (2013): Reduction of pesticide use can increase earthworm populations in wheat crops in a European temperate region. – Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 181: 223–230.
Perel, T. S. (1979): Range and regularities in the distribution of earthworms in the USSR fauna. - Nauka, Mosow: pp. 272 (in Russian).
Pérez-Losada, M., M. Ricoy, J. C. Marshall & J. Domínguez (2009): Phylogenetic assessment of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa species complex (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. – Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52: 293–302.
Pieper, H. (1969): Zur Verbreitung der Regenwürmer in einigen Landschaften Hessens. – Beiträge zur Naturkunde in Osthessen 1: 103–106.
Plytycz, B., J. Bigaj, A. Osikowski, S. Hofman, A. Falniowski, T. Panz, P. Grzmil & F. Vandenbulcke (2018): The existence of fertile hybrids of closely related model earthworm species, Eisenia andrei and E. fetida. - PLoS ONE 13(1): e0191711, 18 pp.
Porco, D., C-H. Chang, L. Dupont, S. James, B. Richard & T. Decaëns, T. (2018): A reference library of DNA barcodes for the earthworms from Upper Normandy: Biodiversity assessment, new records, potential cases of cryptic diversity and ongoing speciation. - Applied Soil Ecology 124: 362–371.
Riecken, U., P. Finck, U. Raths, E. Schröder & A. Ssymank (2003): Standard-Biotoptypenliste für Deutschland, 2. Fassung - Schriftenreihe für Landschaftspflege u. Naturschutz 75: 65 S. + Anhänge.
Römbke, J. (2000): Lumbricidae (Regenwürmer). – In: Niddahänge östlich Rudingshain. Zoologische Untersuchungen 1990-1992. Teil 1. - Naturwaldreservate in Hessen 5/2.1. – Mitteilungen der Hessischen Landesforstverwaltung 32/1: 57–83.
[http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=16851]
Römbke, J., P. Dreher, L. Beck, W. Hammel, K. Hund, H. Knoche, W. Kördel, W. Kratz, T. Moser, S. Pieper, A. Ruf, J. Spelda & S. Woas (2000): Bodenbiologische Bodengüte-Klassen. - Umweltforschungsplan des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Texte 6/00, 276 pp.
Römbke, J. (2001): Lumbricidae (Regenwürmer). – In: Schönbuche. Zoologische Untersuchungen 1990-1992. Teil 1. Naturwaldreservate in Hessen 6/2.1. – Hessen-Forst – FIV Ergebnis- und Forschungsbericht 28/1: 27–52 [http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=16851].
Römbke, J., P. Dreher, L. Beck, K. Hund-Rinke, S. Jänsch, W. Kratz, S. Pieper, A. Ruf, J. Spelda & S. Woas (2002): Entwicklung von bodenbiologischen Bodengüteklassen für Acker- und Grünlandstandorte. - Umweltforschungsplan des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. - Texte 20 273.
Römbke, J., C. A. M. van Gestel, S. E. Jones, J. E. Koolhaas, J. M. L. Rodrigues & T. Moser (2004): Ring-Testing and Field-Validation of a Terrestrial Model Ecosystem (TME) – An Instrument for Testing Potentially Harmful Substances: Effects of Carbendazim on Earthworms. – Ecotoxicology 13: 105–118.
Römbke, J. (2006): Lumbricidae (Regenwürmer). – In: Hohestein. Zoologische Untersuchungen 1994-1996, Teil 1. Naturwaldreservate in Hessen 7/2.1. – Mitteilungen der Hessischen Landesforstverwaltung 41: 29–59 [http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=16851].
Römbke, J. (2009): Die Regenwürmer (Lumbricidae) des Naturwaldreservats Goldbachs- und Ziebachsrück (Hessen). Untersuchungszeitraum 1994–1996. – Mitteilungen der Hessischen Landesforstverwaltung 45: 25–55 [http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=16851].
Römbke, J., T. Blick & W. H. O. Dorow (2012): Die Regenwürmer (Lumbricidae) des Naturwaldreservats Kinzigaue (Hessen). Untersuchungszeitraum 1999–2001. In: Blick, T., Dorow, W.H.O. & Kopelke, J.-P.: Kinzigaue. Zoologische Untersuchungen 1999–2001, Teil 1. Naturwaldreservate in Hessen 12: 23–51.
Römbke, J., U. Burkhardt, H. Höfer, F. Horak, S. Jänsch, M. Roß-Nickoll, D. Russell, H. Schmitt & A. Toschki (2013): Beurteilungsansätze für die Boden-Biodiversität: Ergebnisse eines UBA-Vorhabens. – Bodenschutz 3/13: 100–105.
Römbke, J., M. Aira, T. Backeljau, K. Breugelmans,
J. Domínguez, E. Funke, N. Graf, M. Hajibabaei, M. Pérez-Losada, P.G. Porto, R. M. Schmelz, J. Vierna, A. Vizcaíno & M. Pfenninger (2016): DNA barcoding of earthworms (Eisenia fetida/andrei complex) from 28 ecotoxicological test laboratories. – Applied Soil Ecology 174: 3–11.
Römbke, J., W. Dorow & T. Blick (2017): Allolobophoridella eiseni (Lumbricidae), a truly arboreal earthworm in the temperate region of Central Europe. – Soil Organisms 89: 74–83.
Rutgers, M., A. Orgiazzi, C. Gardi, J. Römbke, S. Jänsch, A. Keith, R. Neilson, B. Boag, O. Schmidt, A.K. Murchie, R.P. Blackshaw, G. Pérès, D. Cluzeau, M. Guernion, M. J. I. Briones, J. Rodeiro, R. Piñeiro, D. Díaz-Cosin, J. P. Sousa, M. Suhadolc, I. Kos, P.H. Krogh, J. Faber, C. Mulder, J. J. Bogte, H. J. van Wijnen, A.J. Schouten & D. de Zwart (2016): Mapping earthworm communities in Europe. – Applied Soil Ecology 97: 98–111.
Savigny, J. C. (1826): Analyse des Travaux de l’Académie royale des Sciences, pendant l’année 1821, partie physique. - In: Cuvier, G. (ed.), Mémoires de l’Académie des Sciences de l’Institut de France. Vol. 5. Paris: 176–184.
Schmelz, R. & F. Schöll (1992): Über die Oligochaetenfauna an der Stromsohle des Rheins. – Lauterbornia 12: 1–10.
Schwank, P. (1981): Turbellarien, Oligochaeten und Archianneliden des Breitenbachs und anderer oberhessischer Mittelgebirgsbäche. II. Die Systematik und Autökologie der einzelnen Arten. – Archiv für Hydrobiologie Supplement 62: 86–147.
Schwert, D.P. (1979): Description and significance of a fossil earthworm (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) cocoon from postglacial sediments in Southern Ontario. – Canadian Journal of Zoology 57: 1402–1405.
Sims, R. W. & B. M. Gerard (1999): Earthworms. In: Kermack, D. M. & Barnes, R.S.K. (eds): Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 31. – E. J. Brill / W. Backhuys, London, UK: 1–171.
Spurgeon, D. J., M. Liebeke, C. Anderson, P. Kille, A. Lawlor,
J. G. Bundy & E. Lahive (2016): Ecological drivers influence the distributions of two cryptic lineages in an earthworm morphospecies. – Applied Soil Ecology 108: 8–15.
Stegger, P., K. P. Ebke & J. Römbke (2011): Boric acid as alternative reference substance for earthworm field tests. – Journal of Soils Sediments 11: 330–335.
Taberlet, P., E. Coissac, M. Hajibabaei & L. H. Rieseberg (2012): Environmental DNA. – Molecular Ecology 21: 1789–1793.
Terhivuo, J. & A. Saura (2008): Clone distribution of the earthworm Eiseniella tetraedra (Sav.) (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) across an altitudinal gradient on subarctic mountains of NW Europe. – Pedobiologia 51: 375–384.
Tiunov, A.V., C. M. Hale, H. M. Holdsworth & T. S. Vsevolodova-Perel (2006): Invasion patterns of Lumbricidae into the previously earthworm-free areas of northeastern Europe and the western Great Lakes region of North America. – Biological Invasions 8: 1223–1234.
Turbé, A., De Toni, A., Benito, P., Lavelle, P., Ruiz, N., Van der Putten, W. H., Labouze, E. & Mudgal, S. (2010): Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers. Bio Intelligence Service, IRD, and NIOO, Report for the European Commission (DG Environment). 250 p.
Van Groenigen, J. W., I. M. Lubbers, H. M. J. Vos, G. G. Brown, G. B. De Deyn & K. J. van Groenigen (2014): Earthworms increase plant production: a meta-analysis. – Scientific Reports 4: 6365 | DOI: 10.1038/srep06365.
Vlasenko, R. P., S. V. Mezhzherin, A. V. Garbar & Y. Kotsuba (2011): Polyploid races, genetic structure and morphological features of earthworm Aporrectodea rosea (Savigny, 1826) (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in Ukraine. – Comparative Cytogenetics 5: 91–103.
Vos, H. M., M. B. Ros, G. F. Koopmans & J. W. van Groenigen (2014): Do earthworms affect phosphorus availability to grass? A pot experiment. – Soil Biology and Biochemistry 79: 34–42
Westernacher-Dotzler, E. (1988): Abundanz von Regenwürmern (Lumbricidae, Oligochaeta) unter verschiedenen Kulturpflanzen. - Doctoral thesis, University of Braunschweig, Germany: 149 pp.
Wilcke, D. E. (1939): Der gegenwärtige Stand unserer Kenntnis der märkischen Lumbricidenfauna. – Märkische Tierwelt 4: 34–50.
Wurst, S., R. Langel & S. Scheu (2005): Do endogeic earthworms change plant competition? – A microcosm study. Plant and Soil 271: 123–130.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Soil Organisms is committed to fair open access publishing. All articles are available online without publication fees. Articles published from Vol. 96 No. 3 (2024) onwards are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Articles published from Vol. 80 No. 1 through Vol. 96 No. 2 are available under the previous terms, allowing non-commercial, private, and scientific use.
