EARTHWORM COMMUNITIES (OLIGOCHAETA, LUMBRICIDAE) OF PINE FORESTS AND SMALL FOLIAGE FORESTS IN THE FOREST-STEPPE OB’ REGION

Earthworms form an essential group of soil macrofauna that performs a number ecosystem functions in forests. Studies the species composition and population density earthworms were conducted many regions Russia; however, fauna Lumbricidae Novosibirsk area remained unexplored for long time. The objective this work is to carry out comparative analysis earthworm coniferous small foliage forests forest-steppe Ob region (Novosibirsk area) identify correlation between basic physical chemical properties soil. study was pine birch-aspen main method registration layer-by-layer excavation with hand sorting samples forest deadwood. Some parameters also measured. Data each habitat are given. studied habitats classified according ratio living forms. It found humidity most significant factor epigeiс epi-endogeiс species. diversity largely supported by Asian subspecies Eisenia nordenskioldi subjected morphometric confirming its characteristic polymorphism.