Spatial analysis of earthworm biodiversity at the regional scale

Information about the spatial patterns of soil biodiversity at the regional scale is limited though required, e.g. for understanding regional scale effects of biodiversity on ecosystem processes. This study was conducted to determine whether earthworm biodiversity parameters display spatial patterns at the regional scale and whether they are related to soil properties. A transect study was carried out in 1996, 1997 and 1998 on tilled, sandy to loamy soils in the morainal landscape of northeast Germany. One soil block (50 cm × 50 cm × 20 cm) was sampled at 50 sites for earthworm number, biomass and species composition.