Artículos de revistas
Differences Between Epigeic Earthworm Populations in Tank Bromeliads from Puerto Rico and Dominica
Registro en:
0008-6452
Autor
Richardson, B.A.
Borges, S.
Richardson, M.J.
Institución
Resumen
Large differences were found between the abundance, biomass and distribution of epigeic earthworms in the bromeliads of montane forests in Puerto Rico and Dominica. In Dominica they occurred in more than 90% of plants and made up 60-80% of the total invertebrate community biomass, whereas in
Puerto Rico they were only found in 8% of plants and were less than 2% of invertebrate biomass. In Dominica, therefore, these worms are likely to have a major role in processing canopy litter falling into
bromeliad rosettes, as other groups of leaf processors, such as Isopoda and Diplopoda, were relatively infrequent. Conversely, in Puerto Rican bromeliads, where earthworm abundance was low, Isopoda and Diplopoda comprised a higher proportion of the invertebrate community. The earthworm species occurring
in the two islands were different, Neotrigaster complutensis and Trigaster yukiyui in Puerto Rico, and
Eutrigaster sporadonephra in Dominica. The biogeography of epigeic worms in bromeliads is briefly discussed. College of Arts and Sciences
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez