Population Density and Distribution of the New Zealand Indigenous Earthworm Octochaetus Multiporus (megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) in Hill Pastures

New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1998) 22(1): 87-93 ©New Zealand Ecological Society As part of a larger study on the biophysical indicators of sustainability in pastoral ecosystems (Lambert et al., 1996) earthworm numbers have been measured in pastures with differing managements. The native New Zealand earthworm Octochaetus multiporus (Beddard, 1885) was commonly found during the routine winter sampling of the soil fauna. Because this species was relatively abundant on some pastures and so little is known of the ecology and biology of native earthworm species in New Zealand it was decided to take the opportunity carry out a more intensive study of Octochaetus multiporus. This paper reports on population densities of Octochaetus multiporus throughout the year, in pastures of different fertilities.